10-15-24.-The Public Ministry (MP) accused Paralympic medalist <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/10/prosecutors-office-accuses-paralympic-medalist-marcos-falcon-of-sexual-abuse-of-minor-athletes/" title="Prosecutor's Office accuses Paralympic medalist Marcos Falcón of sexual abuse of minor athletes”>Marcos Falcón, 42, of sexually abusing three underage athletes, whom he “kissed and touched their legs during training” in the state of Miranda. .
Falcón won the bronze medal in judo at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
According to the entity, the victims are between 15 and 17 years old. They reported Marcos Falcón on October 1st to a police headquarters. In his story, the aggressor “told them that, in order to advance” to a level in this discipline, “they had to spend the night with him at his residence.”
That same day, the police forces arrested the athlete, who was later charged with the crimes of “sexual abuse without penetration and sexual harassment.” Therefore, a court ordered his detention at the police headquarters in Miranda.
Impact on Venezuelan sports and call to action
This unfortunate event has exposed a latent problem in the sports field: abuse of power and sexual violence. It is essential that sports institutions, coaches and society in general work together to prevent these types of events and guarantee the safety of athletes, especially the youngest ones.
It is imperative that clear protocols are implemented for reporting abuse, comprehensive care is offered to victims, and control mechanisms are established to identify and punish those who violate the integrity of athletes.
The case of Marcos Falcón should serve as a wake-up call for Venezuelan sport to become a safe space free of violence, where the values of respect and equity prevail.
