On Monday the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) banned Spanish MTB racer Edgar Carballo Gonzalez for one year after the Ethics Commission found the 36 year-old guilty of violating the Code of Ethics by sexually harassing another cyclist, according to a press release.

The five member UCI Ethics Commission concluded the former Spanish National Downhill Champion made “sexual and non-consensual actions (making sexual advances, with inappropriate physical contact and the use of the word ‘rape’, after having been told by the complainant that they would not have any sexual interaction because she had a boyfriend) violated her dignity and represented sexual harassment.”

In a separate video statement posted on Instagram, Ares Masip from Spain acknowledged that she was the victim and reported the incident via the confidential reporting platform UCI SpeakUp, “At first, I tried to forget it and pretend nothing had happened, but as the months went by, it started to take its toll. I realized more and more how bad it was and decided to report it. I decided to go public because it happens more often. Unfortunately. Now I’ve broken the silence, and I hope it’s possible to create a safer environment.”

Photo Credit: UCI

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