Sexual abuse: a damning report for Malian basketball
- AFP - GERARD JULIEN
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 min
On September 14, 2021, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) published an independent report on allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated within Malian basketball over the past two decades.
The investigation, led by the team of jurist Richard McLaren, confirms the seriousness of the facts and denounces the obstructions of the Malian Federation (FMBB).
However, she found no direct evidence against the current president of FIBA.
Hamane Niang was accused by
The New York Times
of having turned a blind eye to cases, when he was the boss of the FMBB (1999-2007) then the Minister of Sports of Mali (2007-2011).
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The report avoids citing the names of victims and places where sexual abuse has been committed since the late 1990s, "
to protect witnesses against possible reprisals
." Further proof of the seriousness of this vast affair within Malian basketball,
revealed in June 2021 by the newspaper
The New York Times
then the NGO Human Rights Watch.
On September 14, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) put online
the independent investigation
made by the team of jurist Richard McLaren (MITT). And it was difficult to lead, according to its authors. “
Witnesses interviewed by MIIT described a culture of fear, retaliation, and cover-ups related to victims of sexual abuse within the [Malian Basketball Federation] (FMBB) over the decades. At least 22 of the potential witnesses refused to speak to MIIT, often for these reasons.
"
MITT goes further: “
The FMBB played a role in these efforts to intimidate witnesses and other actions aimed at obstructing the investigation, including contradictory, evasive and untrue testimony from several FMBB officials, including President (Harouna) Maiga.
"
Several Malian basketball personalities targeted
Despite these obstacles, investigators say they have "
direct evidence that
coach (Amadou) Bamba
sexually assaulted several players, in addition to other forms of harassment and intimidation
." They point out that “
MIIT has gathered evidence regarding other people and events of concern. This includes corroborated evidence against FMBB President Maiga, who was provisionally suspended by FIBA during the independent investigation for his conduct of obstructing the investigation and for lying to investigators about his knowledge. previous abuse […]
”.
Other Malian basketball players are cited in this vast scandal, often for having disrupted the investigations or at least for not having acted to protect the athletes.
The FIBA, in a statement, thus indicates that it “will
pronounce additional suspensions against three other members of the FMBB, pending the opening of a disciplinary procedure
: the trainer Fanta Diallou, the general secretary [of the FMBB] Seydou Maiga and his vice-president Amadou Traoré
”.
The investigators conclude: “
An institutionalized acceptance of the mistreatment of female players exists within the FMBB.
And no action or effort has been made to recognize or correct this.
"
"No direct evidence" against the boss of world basketball
The team mandated by FIBA stresses, however, that it has found "
no direct evidence
" against the current boss of the International Basketball Federation: "
The allegation in the
New York Times
that Hamane Niang has ignored assaults on women for 12
years, from 1999 to 2011, a period during which he was first president of the FMBB and then Mali's sports minister, cannot be supported by direct evidence.
"
Satisfied with these conclusions, the Malian spoke in a statement: “
This investigation is of capital importance and I would like to express my personal and unconditional support for the victims.
These infringements must be duly prosecuted by FIBA through independent procedures.
Since the integrity officer has confirmed my innocence, I will now resume my official duties with FIBA.
The former president of the African Confederation (FIBA Africa) stepped back on June 14.
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