Paris (AFP)

"There is no other solution than to deconstruct to better rebuild", reacted the Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu after the resignation of the president of the French Federation of ice sports Didier Gailhaguet Saturday, in the midst of a scandal of sexual violence in skating.

"In order for sport to grow, we must not be afraid of that," added Maracineanu, stressing that "testimonies are coming to other disciplines" from his services, during a press briefing organized at the Ministry of Sports Saturday afternoon.

The minister clarified that the administrative investigation targeting the FFSG would begin "on Monday" and would last "a few good weeks".

"And in the territories, our agents will go to the 176 clubs to support coaches, athletes, families, and conduct administrative inquiries," said Maracineanu.

As for the procedure for withdrawing the delegation to the federation, "it will start," added the minister.

"The procedure does not necessarily mean that we are going to remove the delegation, as that does not mean that we are not going to remove it," she said. "We are going to carry out these investigations. And behind, the responsibilities will be weighed. "

Maracineanu will meet next week the now acting president of the FFSG, Maryvonne Del Torchio, she also announced.

Sports Minister Called For Resignation On Monday After Charges Of Rape And Sexual Assault Formulated By Several Former Skaters, Including Former Champion Sarah Abitbol, ​​Against Different Coaches Between The Late 1970s and in the early 1990s, Gailhaguet replied that he would await the conclusions of the upcoming administrative inquiry "before making a decision".

But he ended up giving up his arms on Saturday after a meeting of the Federal Council, the FFSG's supervisory and supervisory body, after more than two decades of almost uninterrupted reign.

© 2020 AFP