Proposed class-action lawsuit filed against Gymnastics Canada, provincial federations

TSN Senior Correspondent

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A former competitive gymnast has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Gymnastics Canada and six provincial gymnastics federations, alleging the organizations created an environment where abuse could occur and failed to take the proper steps to protect young athletes.

The 32-page claim was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by Amelia Cline, who asked the court to certify her claim as a class action representing Canadian gymnasts who claim they were sexually, physically and/or psychologically abused since 1978.

Cline, a former member of B.C.'s provincial gymnastics team, has asked the court to award unspecified damages for past and future health care services, as well as punitive and aggravated damages. Other defendants include provincial gymnastics federations in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Other federations may not have been named as defendants because of different provincial rules about limitation periods for abuse claims.

Cline alleges coaches Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin routinely abused her and other gymnasts at the Omega Gymnastics Sports Centre in Coquitlam, B.C. Cline’s allegations have not been proven and Gymnastics Canada has not filed a statement of defence.

Cline’s lawsuit was filed two months after a group of more than 70 former gymnasts demanded Sport Canada commission an independent investigation examining the culture of Gymnastics Canada.

The legal claim also comes as athletes speak out about a purportedly widespread toxic culture within Canadian amateur sports. More than 50 athletes are involved in a proposed class-action lawsuit against Canada Artistic Swimming, alleging psychological abuse that