(Reuters) - Volleyball Australia (VA) has apologised to former players of the Australian women's indoor team who it said experienced physical and mental abuse at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra between 1997-2005.
The players faced an environment of fear, punitive training practices, inadequate complaints handling, lack of coach accountability and coaches who disregarded the advice of medical and performance support staff, VA said in a statement on Thursday.
"We are deeply sorry for the ongoing effects these experiences have had on your life, and on your relationship with the sport of volleyball and with Volleyball Australia. We unreservedly apologise for that harm," the statement said.
Many of the players were adolescents with the youngest being 14, VA said. AIS did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
"We have heard from players who have struggled with physical and mental effects of these experiences, including self-harm, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, substance abuse, estrangement from loved ones, loss of income and low self-worth. Some are living with ongoing effects," the statement added.
"It is critical that in moving forward the quest for medals and success does not outweigh the protections of the physical and mental wellbeing of all those involved."
AIS's parent body the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) apologised to former AIS athletes in May 2021 after the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) published an independent review into gymnastics in Australia, detailing physical, emotional and sexual abuse faced by athletes.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
