Forced kiss claim leads to ‘helplessness’ for accuser who turned to Olympics abuse-fighting agency

By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer

DENVER (AP) — Former elite fencer Kirsten Hawkes feels let down by the U.S. Center for SafeSport after filing a complaint to the agency formed in 2017 to combat sexual misconduct in Olympic sports. Since then, more than 1,900 people have been placed on its disciplinary database — a sign, it says, that efforts to corral abusers who might otherwise go unchecked have been successful. But Hawkes’ former coach, who she accused of forcing an unwanted kiss on her and other abuse, never went on that list — not after SafeSport handed him a three-month probation, nor after the probation was overturned by an arbitrator. Hawkes says her case undermined her confidence in SafeSport’s ability to protect her and others in similar situations.