A Hungarian underage gymnast has become the victim of severe abuse at the training camp at Resita.
The Romanian Gymnast Federation is accused of covering up a very serious abuse case. According to information published by the Romanian Pro Sport portal, one of the members of the gymnastic team a 15-years old boy of Hungarian ethnicity, was subjected to inhumane humiliations. Two of his Romanian colleagues applied severe, violent treatment, while the others watched passively the horrifying events unfold.
The case raises concerns about ethnic abuse, as the victim was Hungarian underage individual, who was constantly insulted regarding his Hungarian ethnicity during the beating and humiliation by his Romanian peers.
As the European Championship approached, a training camp for gymnasts was held at the Resita sports complex, where young athletes organised parties after training sessions, during which as later revealed, alcoholic beverages were consumed. Two Romanian gymnasts, F.B. and D.P. tied the Hungarian gymnast to a radiator, cut his hair totally bald, stripped him naked, forced him to consume alcohol, layed on top of him and mimicked sexual contact. These scenes were witnessed by the other members of the team, without any of them intervening. Meanwhile they shouted at him “ungure, ungure” (Hungarian, Hungarian).After experiencing severe humiliation, the athlete left the training camp the next day, went home to Lugoj in Timiș County, and told their parents about the drastic abuse they he been subjected to.
If we examine the case from a criminal law perspective, we may recognize the commission of several offenses: unlawful deprivation of liberty (the victim’s hands were tied, and they were held captive in a room without their consent), physical assault, sexual perversion, mistreatment of a minor, ethnic discrimination, mistreatment based on ethnic origin.
The ProSport portal draws attention to the fact that representatives of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation are trying to cover up the terrible story. The publication finds it outrageous that a promising athlete is tortured in the national team camp, discriminated against on ethnic grounds, while those responsible prefer to sweep the matter under the rug. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation has been informed of the incident but has yet to take any action.
This case also highlights that violence, ethnic discrimination, and harassment are fully present in the world of sports.
(Photo: Prosport)