A British Paralympian claims she has lost her place on the team while receiving mental health treatment after being gang raped.
Cassie Cava was tipped to win a medal for snowboarding at the Winter Olympics in March.
But she withdrew from the selection process citing a lack of support.
Ms Cava, 26, said she was left feeling suicidal because of the treatment she received from senior figures and coaches at British Parasnowsport.
Cassie Cava was tipped to win a medal for snowboarding at the Winter Olympics in March but she withdrew from the selection process due to a lack of support
She added that it was ‘worse than being raped’.
The sportswoman added that her bosses made her feel ‘worthless’ and ‘like they want me to be un-raped,’ the Telegraph reports.
Her claims have sparked an investigation into allegations of bullying made by the Para-snowboarder.
She said: ‘They say that opening up about something and not getting support is the second trauma or the betrayal.
‘They really made me feel that what had happened meant I couldn’t go on and do anything. They made me feel really bad for opening up about my mental health and talking about it.
Ms Cava’s claims have sparked an investigation into allegations of bullying made by the Para-snowboarder
‘It was horrible and I’ve really struggled over the last six months. I’ve been really low and being made to feel like that and being made to feel so worthless was awful.’
Ms Cava was attacked late at night as she was walking home in 2013 and is reluctant to relive the details of the harrowing ordeal, and remains unwilling to divulge precise information.
The paralymipian never fully reported the traumatic incident, which took place in Europe, and remains unwilling to divulge precise information.
She returned home and embarked on her medical degree at King’s College London.
But her studies came to a halt in 2014 when she had to have a leg amputated below the knee.
She instead focused on becoming the first female para-snowboarder to represent Great Britain in the Pyeongchang Games this year.
The paralymipian never fully reported the traumatic incident – she returned home and embarked on her medical degree at King’s College London
Ms Cava only told her coaches about the rape at the end of 2016 when she began to feel unsafe in a male-dominated environment as the only female athlete on the team.
She claims that when she told them about the ordeal, one senior figure asked her: ‘Do you want to hang yourself?’
She also alleges that she had to beg to train and live with other female athletes but was forced to train, eat and sleep in the same place as the all-male team.
Last February, Ms Cava was admitted to a mental health hospital and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
During her stay, she said her UK sport funding would be taken away due to ‘behavioural issues’.
Last February, Ms Cava was admitted to a mental health hospital and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder
While it was later reinstated following an appeal, she was again denied her pleas for another woman to join her.
It left her believe that she was not going to be supported ‘in any way’, she said.
The sportswoman began to self-harm and was left felling suicidal, adding: ‘I was met with such horrible treatment. It was worse than being in hospital, it was worse than being raped.’
A UK Sport spokesman said: ‘Athlete welfare is of the utmost importance to all of us.
‘British Parasnowsport and UK Sport have jointly commissioned Sport Resolutions UK to produce an independent investigation and finding of fact into the allegations raised by Cassie Cava, and therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage.’
A British Parasnowsport spokesperson said: ‘We would caution against any conclusions being drawn by others not in possession of all the facts.
‘As the investigation is ongoing, we are not able to expand further at this time.’