Sources detail U.S. Ski and Snowboard's alleged interference in sexual misconduct investigation

Multiple sources, including women who have accused former U.S. Snowboard head coach Peter Foley of sexual assault and misconduct, detailed to ESPN the events behind the U.S. Center for SafeSport's accusation that U.S. Ski and Snowboard interfered in its investigation. They told ESPN that representatives of U.S. Ski and Snowboard failed to correctly report the women's allegations, misled them and initially prevented them from reporting directly to SafeSport.

On Tuesday, after ESPN detailed allegations by three former U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and a former employee against Foley, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter, obtained by ESPN, to U.S. Ski and Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt and general counsel Alison Pitt.

«The reports shared by the Center are very troubling. They allege that U.S. Ski and Snowboard leadership has been conducting its own investigation outside of the investigation being conducted by the Center, has failed to make notifications regarding sexual misconduct to the Center, and has failed to timely provide the Center with evidence in the possession of U.S. Ski and Snowboard.»

«Further, it has been reported that U.S. Ski and Snowboard has actively provided misinformation to individuals involved in the investigation in an effort to discourage participation in the Center's investigation and to attempt to identify who may be participating in the investigation.»

Grassley also referred SafeSport's concerns to the FBI, according to the letter.

«U.S. Ski & Snowboard is aware of the concerns raised by Senator Grassley's office, and takes the concerns seriously,» the federation said in a statement on Wednesday. «Still, U.S. Ski & Snowboard disagrees that it has not acted in accordance with