You are utterly ridiculous.
First off, Safe Sport does not have any sort of “clause” that allows people who have been CLEARED of accusations to be found “guilty.”
To be found guilty of a FELONY in CRIMINAL court, a statute of limitations will apply. As will procedural rules with respect to evidence that a jury can consider, and evidence of prior bad acts. The legal standard is “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” Thus, many people accused of felonies are not CONVICTED for the applicable crime. Because obtaining a conviction in our criminal system, and depriving someone of their liberty is challenging. Very challenging. As it should be.
There are people all over the country RIGHT NOW that prosecutors and police SINCERELY BELIEVE are guilty of FELONIES. But no charges have been brought against these people… because prosecutors and police don’t have enough evidence to obtain a criminal conviction in a court of law.
Just because charges werent broyght shainst an individual DOES NOT MEAN THEY WERE CLEARED.
On to Safe Sport. The investigators can look at all sorts of evidence, and the standard of proof is simply “a preponderance of the evidence.” The most severe penalty is that someone will be banned for life from participating in recognized competitions and other events affiliated with a given sport’s NGO.
No one who has committed suicide was killed by Safe Sport. Suicide is tragic. But stop oversimplifying it.
GHM or any of these other people can indeed go work in another field. He will not have any sort of criminal conviction on his record that he has to disclose when applying for a job. Is his reputation in tatters? Yes indeed. Is he pretty much done with giving clinics? Well - yes. For USEF and FEI people. But if he is guilty of having sexual with boys as young as 13 who were his students and living with him… he deserves the penalty. It is what it is. The equestrian world is better off with him GONE. Right now. People who are his friends can continue to be his friends… people are complicated, and this stuff is going to mean more big names go down before this rocky period is in the rear view mirror. It’s sad. I’m not going to judge people who have been longtime friends of his and are privately supporting him. But people who are publicly whipping up mobs in support of GM and taking some sort of “principaled stance” in opposition to Safe Sport? What in the world are they thinking? This law ISN’T going away. If you TRULY preferred the good old days when predators ruled the sport and kids were nervous… ok. Retire already, and enjoy reminiscing with your friends. Go do something else. It’s a good economy out there, and you are fortunate that you don’t have a criminal conviction on your record.
