Story perspectives

UK Report: 21% Female Athletes Abused, Coach Convicted

6/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

The UK report found 21 % of women athletes have suffered sexual abuse and that coaching maltreatment is normalized.
Interviews with 11 former female athletes revealed emotional, physical, discriminatory and sexual abuse.
Coach Phil Banning, 69, pleaded guilty to 18 indecent assault counts for abusing four girls between 1976 and 1982.
The report urges safeguarding, raises the age limit to 25, and cites the Women’s Super League-Kyniska Advocacy partnership as a model.

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Story summary

The UK report found 21 % of women athletes have suffered sexual abuse and that coaching maltreatment is normalized.
Interviews with 11 former female athletes revealed emotional, physical, discriminatory and sexual abuse.
Coach Phil Banning, 69, pleaded guilty to 18 indecent assault counts for abusing four girls between 1976 and 1982.
The report urges safeguarding, raises the age limit to 25, and cites the Women’s Super League-Kyniska Advocacy partnership as a model.