Dutch athletics union says track coach abused young girls

Published Jan. 7, 2019 10:36 a.m. ET

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch track association says a trainer who has been accused of sexually abusing young athletes was banned from the sport for life last year.

Reports over the weekend in Dutch media say that a trainer identified only as Jerry M. admitted at a disciplinary hearing that he sexually abused young girls at two track clubs.

The Athletics Union says in a statement that the trainer was expelled for life after admitting to the abuse at a hearing before a sports disciplinary panel.

The union says it was not able to press criminal charges because victims did not want to go to police. It was not clear how many victims were abused. Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported that Jerry M. coached at two clubs for 35 years.

Athletics Union director Pieke de Zwart says "we would have preferred to see this become a criminal question rather than remaining at the level of a disciplinary procedure because what happened is, of course, terrible."