Canada's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen practice ahead of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. USA Today has reported that Sorensen is under investigation by Canada's Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner for an alleged sexual assault in 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ng Han Guan
Canadian ice dancing champion Nikolaj Sorensen, who is under investigation for alleged sexual assault, and his skating partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry have withdrawn from this week’s Canadian figure skating championships in Calgary.
USA Today reported last week that Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) is investigating Sorensen over an alleged 2012 sexual assault of an American figure skating coach and former skater in Hartford, Conn.
The allegation has not been tested in court.
Sorensen denied the allegation in an Instagram post Tuesday, but said he and Fournier Beaudry were withdrawing from the championship because they believed their participation would be a distraction.
“These allegations are false, and I intend to strongly defend myself and my reputation,” he wrote.
Sorensen said he is co-operating fully with OSIC, which was established in June 2022 as an independent body to handle complaints and reports of abuse and maltreatment in sports.
In a separate Instagram post, Fournier Beaudry said it was a challenging situation.
“While I strongly believe that everyone must be protected and safe in sport, I know that my partner is a man of integrity, respect and kindness,” she wrote.
Both skaters said they would not be commenting further.
Sorensen and Fournier Beaudry, based in Montreal, are the reigning national ice dance champions and placed ninth in the 2022 Olympic Games.
The Canadian figure skating championships got underway Tuesday in Calgary with the junior competition.
Over 300 skaters are competing across the junior and senior levels in men’s and women’s singles, pairs, ice dance and synchronized skating.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2024.
