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German Swimming Association: allegations of abuse: Hempel is suing the DSV

Former water jumper Jan Hempel raised serious allegations against his former coach on ARD.

Photo: image/Horst Galuschka

The former water jumper Jan Hempel (51) wants to sue the German Swimming Association for damages and damages in the millions. This was reported by the “Sportschau” on Sunday. In an ARD documentary, Hempel accused his late coach of years of sexual abuse. The lawsuit is said to be about 1,200 cases in more than 14 years.

“The organization of the German Swimming Association has completely failed in monitoring and controlling its trainers,” said Hempel’s lawyer Thomas Summerer in the “Sportschau” interview: “There was only cover-up. This organizational fault means that an association is liable.«

Hempel himself did not want to comment on the planned lawsuit, which, according to information from the “Sportschau”, is to be filed at the district court in Kassel (DSV) or Dresden (responsible for Hempel’s hometown of Meissen). Lawyer Summerer, who has also been fighting for speed skater Claudia Pechstein for damages after an allegedly unjustified doping ban for years, emphasized: “We’ll do it, even if it takes ten years.”

The DSV announced that “a consultation had been given on compensation payments or financial support for injured parties”, but that “aid options of a financial nature are limited according to the current legal situation”. “Non-profit sports associations may only spend funds on things that correspond to their statutory purpose, i.e. benefit the community,” said the statement from the swimming association.

“It affects all of sport. We are therefore already in contact with other institutions such as the BMI, the DOSB or Athletes Germany about what the possibility of appropriate material compensation could look like,” said Vice President Wolfgang Rupieper. Foundations or funds would be possible. “We’re on the right track there. Because in principle it is clear that reparations must be made.«

The Hempel case caused a stir in the summer of 2022. In the documentary »Abust«, the four-time European champion and Olympic silver medalist from 1996 spoke about sexual abuse, including during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. According to Hempel, he informed the top management of the association in 1997 about the events.

After the allegations of cover-up, the DSV suspended national coach Lutz Buschkow, who allegedly knew about the attacks but did not do anything about it. Buschkow claimed that he only found out about Hempel’s allegations through the ARD documentary. On March 1, an independent review commission began its work, which, according to Rupieper, will deal with “all cases named in the ARD documentation in August 2022”.

»We accept responsibility in all consistency. I hope that as many of those affected as possible will be able to overcome their shame and take the opportunity to contact the independent commission. And describe their incidents to get a big picture of the misconduct,” said Rupieper.SID/nd

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