WA Police looking into ‘potential criminal conduct’ of former WAIS pole vault coach

WA Police are looking into claims of “potential criminal conduct” involving former Olympic pole vault coach Alex Parnov in the wake of allegations he preyed on young female athletes — including Paris gold medallist Nina Kennedy — for more than a decade.

Details regarding police involvement in the matter came as the WA Institute of Sport on Saturday confirmed it had commissioned an independent review into Parnov and the sporting program he ran after being made aware of “grievances” against him last year.

Kennedy was one of several athletes to break their silence in The Weekend Australian alleging she was a victim of Parnov.

WAIS chair Neale Fong said the current board was appalled by the alleged behaviour of Parnov and the effect those alleged actions had on athletes.

He said while the current board had been aware of some allegations against him, the disturbing accounts published in The Weekend Australian newspaper were “far more extensive than previously known”.

Parnov quit as head of the pole vaulting sport program at WAIS in 2019 after he was stood down amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him. But details of those claims were not made public at the time.

Dr Fong said when the new board was appointed last year, one of its first steps was to commission the review into the pole vault program, carried out by an experienced inspector of police.

That inquiry, he said, wrapped up in March and issues were identified.

“The athlete that was particularly involved is who you’re aware of our own very special Nina Kennedy made it very clear to us that she was very keen to focus on the pre Olympic program preparation, and during the Paris Games that she did not want to visit this issue,” he said.

“We’ve been very respectful of that. And so that was not put on hold, but was certainly . . . the board respected her wishes to not go down that route, and now that it’s come out, and now that she’s prepared to discuss these issues, clearly, we have a plan to address other people that may have been involved or may have been affected by Parnov in that period of time.”

A WA Police spokesperson confirmed matters involving potential criminal conduct at WAIS were brought to the attention of WA Police for independent assessment.

“Given the sensitive nature of this matter in respect to potential victims, WA Police will not be providing any details regarding specific matters raised, or confirmation of any potential investigations that may have commenced,” the spokesperson said.

“WA Police will continue to liaise with representatives of the group of athletes and will support any individual that makes a criminal complaint.”

The allegations regarding Parnov is the latest issue to hit the scandal-plagued sporting organisation which saw the most of its board resign in quick succession last year after 21 women who were part of its gymnastics program between 1987 and 2016 came forward with claims of abuse.

Besides the pole vault and gymnastic reviews, Dr Fong also revealed WAIS was looking into a historic grievance lodged by a member of its water polo program.

While he would not go into detail, Dr Fong said the complaint was from around six or seven years ago.

He also said he encouraged anyone who may have been affected in any way to come forward.

“If there are people that have been wronged, wherever you might be, we would like to see justice done and people healed and brought to restoration,” he added.

Athletics Australia boss Simon Hollingsworth addressed the shocking allegations on Saturday, revealing the organisation revoked Parnov’s coaching accreditation in 2019 and imposed a lifetime ban on him obtaining re-accreditation.

“In subsequent years, clear directives were issued by AA to prevent his participation in any athletics-related activity both in Australia and abroad,” he said.

Hollingsworth said Athletics Australia had asked Sport Integrity Australia to support a review of how the organisation acted during the period Parnov was coaching, including how any complaints about his behaviour were managed.

“The reports identify patterns of behaviour that are totally unacceptable and deeply distressing, and we are profoundly sorry for the harm that they caused to athletes and staff.”

Liberal leader Libby Mettam welcomed any investigation by WA Police but said athletes and those within WAIS deserved a transparent and independent investigation.

“An independent investigation is the only way athletes and victims will have the opportunity to fully share their lived experience,” she said. “It will bring the rottenness to the surface and provide a clear path to fixing the shocking culture that is being exposed in WAIS.

“It is completely inexcusable that any organisation would allow the safety of our athletes to be compromised like this.

“We know these sorts of investigations can achieve cultural change.”

Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888