IN FOCUS: Tackling sexual misconduct in the sports and fitness industry

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After a number of high-profile incidents, CNA takes an in-depth look at what the sport and fitness industry is doing to ensure that trainers, ...

“When I came out of a pose, the instructor smacked me on the bum, and subsequently just walked away like basically nothing had gone on ... That was how nonchalant he was at that point of time,” said the 29-year-old, who declined to be named.This alleged action had followed the conclusion of a yoga adjustment - a hands-on assist by the instructor during a class.

Throughout the next month, the 29-year-old found herself experiencing issues such as the inability to sleep and anxiety in public.sleep problems, diet issues, anxiety in public. And there was a period of time ... I was not able to concentrate on work, and my other hobbies and stuff like that,” she recalled.

The trainer has since been banned from the gym's facilities. In a response to AsiaOne, the trainer denied allegations of misconduct, and said that his client had given her consent. He noted that he would also be lodging a police report on the"false allegations". “A good trainer only needs verbal cues. So, verbally he is able to correct the person in the way that he wants the person to be. Number one, it is always verbal cues, no matter what,” said Mr Ng. “So if verbal cues fail because every client is different … The next round would like a show and tell, so visual cues - which is 'monkey see, monkey do'. So visual cues plus verbal cues.

“About five years ago, that was where I was as well, I didn't know their consent was necessary … As a teacher, the more you are in a position of authority, you feel like: 'Hey, I'm in charge and I get to decide'. But I found something very troubling about that, because it never sat well with me. It never set well for me that I could decide for somebody how to move into a specific shape.

“It's a very long conversation but that’s what’s missing … conversations between facilitators and their clients,” she added. In a second statement issued on Aug 25, Trust Yoga also said vendors had installed more CCTVs at the studio in addition to systems there previously."The new system would provide a wider coverage and field of sight". It said it also had"refined" the standard operating protocol on matters such as"reporting" as well as existing guidance on"class teaching".

In a response to CNA's queries, Trust Yoga said that that it is vital to get"proper alignment" when performing yoga poses. The coach was suspended for two years due to inappropriate conduct, with SportSG concluding that he"had made physical contact" with Ong during a training session, that he was"not vigilant in obtaining explicit permission when making physical contact" with the hurdler and that he used"inappropriate language during training".

“Sometimes at that very instant, it’s hard to stop, like push him away or stop that but that’s something athletes have to try to do.” Since the commission was set up, there have been about four cases of abuse in local sport reported to the commission, added Ms Chan. Coaches listed on the registry are certified under the Singapore Coach Excellence Programme in their respective sports and are required to abide by a code of ethics.

Should a police report be lodged against a coach in the registry, the coach will be suspended pending police investigations, said Mr Yusof. “Often, it takes great courage to even raise such issues. As an athletes’ commission, we hope to be able to provide a safe space where athletes can share their grievances and for us to provide support as we walk by their side. We will provide a roadmap of the possible avenues and options the athlete could handle the situation and work alongside the athlete to raise the issue to SafeSport and include the relevant bodies.

"Having an established code of conduct will provide the framework for best practice standards and scope of professional norms and boundaries, and to ensure a safe and effective environment for the clients and participants," said Mr Chong.READ: Circuit breaker classes: Yoga, tuition and gyms move online as Singapore gets used to operating in virtual worldsmeaning what should the instructors embody, what should the instructors practise.

 

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