A U.S. Olympic fencer who’s below investigation for sexual misconduct claims to have confronted two of his teammates after they stood on the Olympic stage sporting pink face masks in what seemed to be a protest of his presence on the Video games.
Alen Hadzic, 29, an alternate on the boys’s epee fencing group, wore a black masks as he was launched whereas his three different teammates wore pink ones.
Hadzic, of Montclair, New Jersey, obtained a brief suspension from the US Heart for SafeSport in June amid an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by three girls, together with groping, whereas he was a scholar at Columbia College between 2013-2015.
Alen Hadzic, 29, left, an alternate on the boys’s epee fencing group, wore a black masks as he was launched whereas his three different teammates wore pink ones in protest at being on the group with him whereas being accused of sexual misconduct
However he informed USA Today that he feels justified in calling out his fellow fencers for his or her pink protest.
‘They by no means requested me for my aspect of the story. They by no means requested for proof or how I felt,’ he stated.
Hadzic has maintained his innocence, dismissing the claims towards him as ‘untruths.’
An arbiter overturned the suspension clearing the way in which for Hadzic to journey to Japan and compete with the remainder of the USA Fencing group.
Choose Sherrie Krauser discovered that the suspension was ‘inappropriate to the allegations,’ and concluded that Hadzic’s participation within the Tokyo Olympics ‘wouldn’t be detrimental to the repute of america or his sport.’
Alen Hadzic, 29, an alternate on the US males’s epee fencing group is below an investigation associated to sexual misconduct claims
The protest got here on Friday simply as Hadzic and his three different U.S. males’s epee fencers had been about to be launched earlier than their match with Japan.
Fellow fencer Curtis McDowald distributed masks with a black one for Hadzic and pink for the opposite three.
‘I simply keep in mind considering it could be type of foolish if I stood on the market with a black masks and I requested them if they’d an additional pink one, and so they go, “Oh, no,”‘ Hadzic stated.
Shortly after the U.S. had been defeated by Japan a photograph was despatched to Hadzic by which he realized he had been duped.
‘It wasn’t actually till I noticed that image from the skin view that I noticed what was occurring,’ he stated.
Though he was unable to search out McDowald, Hadzic says he did handle to confront his epee teammates, Jake Hoyle and Yeisser Ramirez.
American sabre fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad praised Hadzic’s teammates on Twitter for taking a stand along with an image of the picture
‘I simply informed Hoyle I used to be frankly embarrassed to be his teammate,’ Hadzic stated. ‘I used to be embarrassed to face up there with him.’
He claims to have much like Ramirez: ‘I chewed him out over it. I informed him it wasn’t cool.’
American sabre fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad praised Hadzic’s teammates on Twitter for taking a stand along with an image of the picture.
‘Crew USA males’s epee group wore pink masks for his or her opening match on the Olympics as a present of assist for sexual assault victims. Alen Hadzic— their teammate accused of rape and sexual assault— is on the left. Kudos to the group for taking a stand. #BelieveWomen’
Hadzic stated in a grievance that he needed to fly by himself to Tokyo, lodge in a lodge a 25-minute drive away from Olympic Village (pictured), and to coach other than fellow fencers
Final week, Hadzic claimed he has been unjustly remoted from the remainder of his group competing in Tokyo and compelled to remain in a lodge 25 minutes away from the Olympic Village on account of the sexual misconduct claims.
An official grievance filed by Hadzic alleges that the governing physique of his sport compelled him to fly by himself to Tokyo, lodge in a lodge positioned a 25-minute drive away from the Olympic Village, and prepare other than his fellow fencers.
USA Fencing responded to Hadzic’s grievance by saying that ‘group athletes have expressed considerations for his or her security and well-being arising from [Hadzic’s] presence.’
Hadzic, pictured competing within the Males’s Epee World Cup in February 2020, has been accused of sexual misconduct by three girls between 2013 and 2015
Hadzic’s legal professional, Michael Palma, wrote within the grievance that USA Fencing needs to ‘disguise’ his shopper and ‘maintain him from taking part within the Olympic expertise that he has rightfully earned.’
Hadzic got here below scrutiny after three girls got here ahead, accusing him of sexual misconduct between 2013 and 2015.
One lady accused Hadzic of unspecified offenses in 2013, whereas the 2 had been attending Columbia College.
Hadzic was suspended from the college for a 12 months throughout a Title IX investigation, however he was finally allowed to renew his research and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s diploma in enterprise.
That very same 12 months, a second lady claimed that Hadzic groped her buttocks and pushed her towards a dresser.
Chatting with USA At present Sports activities, the second accuser slammed the choice to raise Hadzic’s suspension and allow him to symbolize the US within the Olympics amid an ongoing SafeSport investigation.
‘I believe one case is sufficient so that you can not be allowed to compete on the f***ing Olympics,’ she stated. ‘It actually makes you query how far somebody must go to ensure that them not to have the ability to compete.’
Hadzic was suspended by US Heart for SafeSport in June, however an arbiter lifted his suspension, permitting him to compete in Tokyo
The CEO of USA Fencing defined in an e-mail to Hadzic that the group didn’t have the authority to sideline him from the Tokyo Video games, however it has put a ‘security plan’ in place in response to complaints from a number of athletes who’ve expressed considerations ‘for his or her security and well-being arising out of your presence…’
Palma stated USA Fencing has recognized in regards to the misconduct allegations towards his shopper for years however has allowed Hadzic to participate in fencing competitions everywhere in the world with none restrictions till now.
Hadzic, who based a medical analysis firm final 12 months, certified for the Tokyo Video games in Could after narrowly lacking a spot on Crew USA for the 2016 Olympics, reported the New York Times.
