Swimmer-Blogger Tony Austin: USA Swimming Has a ‘Rape and Escape’ Loophole
October 6, 2012Did USA Swimming Lie About Telling Police the Allegations Against Coach Murray Stephens of Michael Phelps’ North Baltimore Aquatic Club?
October 8, 2012
Murray Stephens, a 2010 inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is the coach who left the North Baltimore Aquatic Club last year after an ex-swimmer under his tutelage alleged that he had sexually abused her.
Here is the swimming Hall of Fame’s video overview of Stephens’ career:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDJc5Fr2duQ
In a statement last week, USA Swimming said, “[W]e reported the complaint and information received to the Baltimore County Police Department, Precinct 1.”
However, Baltimore Sun reporter Yvonne Wenger told me Friday that the police were saying no such document existed, even after the Sun supplied the name of the alleged perpetrator, Stephens. (The Sun‘s Saturday story on the allegation at North Baltimore Aquatic did not name Stephens.)
I have asked Captain John Spiroff, commander of Precinct 1 of the Baltimore County police, to clarify whether there is a record on file of information provided about Stephens by either USA Swimming or North Baltimore Aquatic.
Irv Muchnick