Olympian denies sexual misconduct, steps down from coach role

Australian figure skating champion Brendan Kerry says he is innocent of the allegation for which he has been permanently banned from the sport in the United States.

Kerry has stood down from his coaching position in Sydney, and from the board of Ice Skating NSW, as Australian skating authorities investigate the events that led the US Centre for SafeSport to impose a lifetime ban for sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Kerry, a three-time Olympian, said he would appeal the ban, which will trigger an independent arbitration.

Brendan Kerry skates during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium. Credit: Getty Images

”After hearing nothing from the US Centre for SafeSport for almost three years … I received their decision with no advance warning whatsoever, sanctioning me for alleged violations that I did not commit,” Kerry said in a statement released to the ABC.

“That decision is not final and I intend to challenge this suspension and request arbitration before a neutral arbitrator as is my right.”

Kerry is not facing criminal charges.

The US Centre for SafeSport was established to investigate allegations of misconduct within Olympic and Paralympic sports. It was created by an act of Congress in 2017 after the US gymnastics abuse scandal.

This masthead has forwarded a list of questions to Kerry via Ice Skating Australia, but this masthead was unable to contact him directly.

Since his retirement in 2022 Kerry had been coaching at Sydney’s Macquarie Ice Skating rink before he stood down on Wednesday. He had also served on the board of Ice Skating NSW.

Brendan Kerry (right) and his mother Monica MacDonald (left) both hold prominent roles in Australian figure skating.

Under its member and child protection policies, Ice Skating Australia and the Australian Professional Skating Association require its coaches to disclose any disciplinary action against them that involves sexual misconduct or abuse, or any matters the sport “may consider to constitute a risk to its members, volunteers, athletes or reputation”.

The Australian Olympic Committee, Sport Integrity Australia, Ice Skating Australia and Ice Skating NSW all released statements on Wednesday saying they were not aware of SafeSport’s investigation into Kerry.

A statement on Ice Skating NSW’s website informed members it was investigating the allegations, and had contacted SafeSport to obtain a copy of its findings.

“We understand Brendan will not be coaching during this period. Brendan’s tenure on the NSWISA Board concluded at the NSWISA AGM yesterday. We will investigate the matter and take appropriate action to protect all our athletes,” the statement added.

Kerry is one of Australia’s most successful figure skaters, competing in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. He is also an eight-time Australian champion. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics – his last before his retirement due to injury – Kerry was selected as a flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

He is also part of an Australian figure skating dynasty. His mother, Monica MacDonald, is a former Olympian and current president of the Australian Professional Skaters’ Association. His sister is two-time national champion Chantelle Kerry, and his step-father, John Dunn, is a coach and board member of Ice Skating Australia.

Macquarie Ice Skating rink is managed by MacDonald and Dunn, and lists Kerry as a lifetime member on its website.

Neither Kerry nor MacDonald were at the relatively busy rink on Thursday. This masthead was unable to contact MacDonald.

Macquarie Ice Skating Rink declined to comment when contacted, instead deferring to Ice Skating NSW. Ice Skating NSW did not respond to detailed questions sent by this masthead.

With Tom Decent

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.