“This report to the cell “signal sport” (which deals almost exclusively with acts of sexual violence, editor’s note) will be filed today.” Jean-Luc Denéchau, president of the French Sailing Federation (FFV), confirmed on Monday that the navigator Kevin Escoffier will be the subject of an FFV report to the sexual violence unit of the Ministry of Sports for events that occurred in May in the UNITED STATES.
The information had been revealed earlier by the daily The Telegram. The ministry also confirmed that the president of the FFV had informed them that the report to the cell would be made on Monday.
“I read the team’s statement during the night from Saturday to Sunday and then what Kevin Escoffier had put on his Instagram […]. I made a number of phone calls which led me to believe that what was presented as an alleged incident was inappropriate behavior he allegedly exhibited towards a woman at a party.” in Newport, during a stopover for The Ocean Race, explained Jean-Luc Denéchau. “The facts that have been reported to me justify that I make a report to the Ministry of Sports and very likely to launch a disciplinary procedure within the federation”he added.
“Behaviours that cannot be tolerated”
If he did not wish to give more details on the testimonies collected at this stage, the president of the FFV estimated that “if the facts were to be proven, these are behaviors that cannot be tolerated”. According to a source familiar with the matter, it would be “of a sexual assault”.
On Saturday, the Swiss crew PRB-Holcim announced that they would start the 6th leg of The Ocean Race, a crewed round-the-world race with a stopover, without their leader Kevin Escoffier. On his Instagram account, the Malouin had said on Saturday in a message deleted since withdrawing from the race “following an alleged incident during the stopover in Newport”from May 10 to 21.
After stopping in Newport, the sailors of The Ocean Race, including Kevin Escoffier, headed for Aarhus (Denmark), where they arrived on May 29. PRB-Holcim, with Escoffier as skipper, had been leader of the general classification since the start in January, before giving up first place during the 5th stage to the American crew 11 th Hour.
Escoffier, 43, won The Ocean Race in 2017-2018 and also has the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2005 on his list.
