The "performative activism" by Americans Jacob Hoyle and Curtis McDowald on Friday was the latest criticism over allowing a man accused of sexual assault to attend the Olympics. Elsa/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Elsa/Getty Images
The "performative activism" by Americans Jacob Hoyle and Curtis McDowald on Friday was the latest criticism over allowing a man accused of sexual assault to attend the Olympics.
Elsa/Getty Images
The American fencing team is not happy to have Alen Hadzic representing the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics.
Almost immediately after making it on to the roster, the 29-year-old was accused of sexual misconduct between 2013 and 2015 by three women.
Hadzic denies the allegations and successfully appealed a suspension that would have kept him off the U.S. team.
On Friday, the men's team conveyed their displeasure to the world, wearing pink face masks in support of sexual assault victims. It made for a striking image as Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez appeared in the light-colored masks, while Hadzic was the odd-man-out in black.
#TeamUSA men’s epee team wore pink masks for their opening match at the Olympics as a show of support for sexual assault victims. Alen Hadzic— their teammate accused of rape and sexual assault— is on the left. Kudos to the team for taking a stand. #BelieveWomen pic.twitter.com/yRI4azelKN
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) July 30, 2021
Jackie Dubrovich, an Olympic fencer who was in Tokyo, called the move by her teammates "PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM" on Instagram. She called for accountability.
"THE PEOPLE/SYSTEMS WHO ENABLED & PROTECTED A VIOLENT PREDATOR ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE," she wrote. "FEMALE ATHLETES WERE NOT PROTECTED & OUR SAFETY WAS DEEMED UNIMPORTANT."
Hadzic had been suspended from all fencing activities by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent agency that investigates sexual abuse in Olympic sports. But weeks later, an arbitrator ruled that the suspension was "inappropriate to the allegations," The New York Times reported.
It was also decided that Hadzic's addition to Team USA would not be "detrimental to the reputation of the United States or his sport."
The decision enraged his teammates who called into question the efficacy of SafeSport, tasked with protecting the athletes.
In an email obtained by USA Today, Kris Ekeren, CEO of USA Fencing, wrote to Hadzic, saying his teammate disagreed with SafeSport's assessment.
"Nevertheless, team athletes have expressed concerns for their safety and well-being arising from your presence, which they say are likely to adversely affect their mental and emotional abilities to prepare and compete at the highest levels required for success in the Olympic Games," Ekeren wrote.
"Several have asked that USA Fencing put measures in place to keep them safe and minimize distractions from training and competition. Accordingly, USA Fencing, in conjunction with the USOPC, will implement a safety plan for the upcoming Olympic Games."
Hadzic was prohibited from staying in the Olympic Village. Instead, he's been staying at a hotel nearby. He also was forced to travel to Tokyo separately from his teammates and forbidden from practicing with female teammates.
Hadzic's lawyer, Michael Palma, says USA Fencing is keeping the Olympian out of sight to avoid negative publicity. The result, Palma told The New York Times, is keeping him "from participating in the Olympic experience that he has rightfully earned."
In the end, Hadzic, an alternate on the men's epee team, did not compete in the Games. The U.S. team lost to Japan on Friday and finished ninth.
The article you've shared delves into a complex intersection of sports, ethics, and allegations of sexual misconduct within the context of the Olympics. The key concepts and themes covered include:
-
Allegations of Sexual Misconduct: The central focus revolves around allegations of sexual misconduct against Alen Hadzic, a member of the U.S. fencing team, dating back to 2013-2015 by three women. These accusations led to his suspension from some fencing activities by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
-
Performative Activism: This term refers to actions that appear to support a cause but may not result in substantial change. In this case, members of the American fencing team expressed their disapproval of Hadzic's inclusion in the Olympic team by wearing pink masks in support of sexual assault victims, signaling their stance against the accused.
-
SafeSport and Accountability: The U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent agency investigating sexual abuse in Olympic sports, suspended Hadzic initially, but an arbitrator later ruled against the suspension. This decision sparked dissatisfaction among teammates, questioning the efficacy of SafeSport and seeking accountability for those enabling Hadzic's participation despite the allegations.
-
Team Discontent and Safety Concerns: The discontent among teammates regarding Hadzic's participation was evident. Concerns about their safety and emotional well-being led to actions such as implementing a safety plan by USA Fencing in conjunction with the USOPC. This included measures like keeping Hadzic away from the Olympic Village, prohibiting him from practicing with female teammates, and making him stay in a separate hotel.
-
Legal Perspectives: Hadzic's lawyer argued that these measures were isolating and preventing him from experiencing the Olympics he rightfully earned, suggesting that USA Fencing was attempting to keep him out of the public eye.
-
Final Outcome: Despite being part of the Olympic team as an alternate, Hadzic did not compete in the Games. The team expressed their discontent, and the U.S. team's performance was adversely affected, finishing ninth.
This situation highlights the complexities surrounding accusations of misconduct within sports, the responses from governing bodies, the impact on team dynamics and performance, and the broader societal conversations around accountability and support for victims.
