Singapore Athletics suspends coach over alleged molest of female athletes
Singapore Athletics (SA) has suspended a coach amid an investigation into improper conduct.
The New Paper understands that the male coach, who worked with national athletes, had allegedly molested three female athletes on separate occasions.
Outgoing athletics chief Tang Weng Fei, told TNP yesterday that he had instructed SA's general manager Jaime Cheong and secretary Ho Mun Cheong to lodge a police report over the matter.
This decision came after the SA's legal advisers pored over statements made by the affected athletes and the coach during an internal inquiry over the past week.
Ho told TNP: "According to our legal advisers, we need to follow protocol. We are obligated by law to report such matters to the police, whether the (complainant) wants to or not."
In one incident, the coach was said to have improperly touched an athlete during a session working with gym weights.
COMPLAINT
Sources say the incidents happened over more than two months.
The affected athletes lodged a complaint to SA, who in turn suspended the coach.
The athletes, however, are understood to be hesitant to bring the matter up to police.
The management committee of the SA has been dealing with the matter just as the national sports association gets set for a huge battle over leadership, with the annual general meeting scheduled on Monday.
Last week, Tang revealed that after a six-year reign as SA president, he will not stand for re-election.
Two former sprinters, Edmond Pereira, a lawyer, and current SA secretary Ho, a director of an engineering firm, are bidding to succeed Tang.
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