A new survey has uncovered a significant sexual safety problem for women working in elite sport in the UK, with 88% of respondents reporting at least one form of sexual misconduct in the past five years. Five individuals (2%) said they had been raped in work-related contexts outside the main workplace during that period.
The report, titled 'Women’s Experiences of Sexual Misconduct Working in UK Elite Sport', was published on Wednesday and surveyed 260 members of the Women’s Sport Collective anonymously. Participants included administrators, coaches, athletes, TV producers, lawyers, and physiotherapists.
The findings show that 87% of respondents experienced sexual harassment and 40% reported sexual assault. Sexual misconduct was categorised into harassment, assault, and rape. Among the six reported rapes (one person reported being raped twice), three were from individuals identifying as having a disability, indicating a higher abuse rate for this group.
Lindsey Simpson, who conducted the survey, noted that the responses from people with disabilities stood out and require further exploration. She said the report puts numbers behind familiar anecdotes, highlighting the scale and nature of the issue. The survey also found that 93% of perpetrators were male.
Only 38% of respondents expressed positive views on governing bodies addressing sexual misconduct, and 46% felt positively about employers' efforts. Simpson hopes the report validates women's experiences and urges organisations to take action, warning of legal, reputational, and commercial risks if they fail to address the problem.
