A leading Russian biathlon coach has been suspended after he was accused of offering a 17-year-old rising star a place in the national team in return for sexual favours.
Anna Moiseeva has been praised by officials for speaking out on the alleged ‘appalling’ sexual harassment by Sergei Tutmin, in his 40s, also a top official in the sport.
She wrote to a sports minister to reveal details of recordings she made of the married man offering to advance her career if she had sex with him, or crush her opportunities if she refused.
Anna Moiseeva, 17, has spoken out on the alleged ‘appalling’ sexual harassment by leading Russian biathlon coach Sergei Tutmin
Tutmin (pictured) is accused of offering the rising star a place in the national team in return for sexual favours
Tutmin is accused of telling her: ‘If you agree to have a relationship with me, I will help you.
‘You will qualify for a place in the team, you will have good equipment, good results.’
She repeatedly resisted his attention, but he kept touching her, she told officials.
He demanded to massage her, and forcibly kissed her, she said.
On another occasion he allegedly summoned her to his room during a training camp, and ordered her to change into shorts – or be thrown off the team.
‘I left and changed my clothes as he requested. He approached me and touched my legs,’ she said.
She rebuffed him but he kept asking her if she had changed her mind on having sex with him, making clear she would make no progress until she succumbed to his demands, she said.
On another occasion Tutmin allegedly summoned her to his room during a training camp, and ordered her to change into shorts – or be thrown off the team
She rebuffed him but he kept asking her if she had changed her mind on having sex with him, making clear she would make no progress until she succumbed to his demands, she said
‘He also said that it was a completely normal thing, that everyone was doing the same thing,’ she said.
‘I should not think that it was only him who was so bad.’
She said: ‘I was scared.
‘It was really disgusting that a coach – who has to protect young people – could do such a thing.
‘It was insulting that he did it to me.
‘I could not agree because I have a feeling of self-esteem and he is much older me, plus he has a family.’
She said: ‘In competitions everyone was given normal bullets and I got bad ones.
‘It was hard to shoot accurately with them.’
She alleged the harassment went on for six months from Tutmin, whose second wife Tatiana, in her 30s, is also a coach.
His son – three years older than Moiseeva – is also a biathlete.
She alleged the harassment went on for six months from Tutmin, whose second wife Tatiana, in her 30s, is also a coach
The teen said: ‘I was scared. It was really disgusting that a coach – who has to protect young people – could do such a thing’
Roman Teryushkov, sports minister for Moscow region, called in the police and said: ‘Sergey Tutmin has been fired and suspended from coaching.
‘We have met Anna and talked to her. We will provide full protection for her.
‘She will be given all opportunities for future training and competitions. This case is so appalling.’
He praised her for outing the coach.
The police probe is underway.
Tutmin told Sport Express newspaper: ‘I am not going to comment on these accusations.’
Later he denied pestering her for sex in return for advancing her career.