Dutch Olympic committee pressuring member Eurlings about abuse allegations

By Janene Pieters on December 21, 2017 - 14:10
1280px-Camiel_Eurlings
Camiel Eurlings (Photo: Roel Wijnants/Wikimedia Commons). (Camiel Eurlings (Photo: Roel Wijnants/Wikimedia Commons))

Camiel Eurlings will make a statement about allegations of him abusing his girlfriend in 2015 at the explicit request of Dutch Olympic committee NOC*NSF. The committee, of which Eurlings is a board member, wants him to make a "public confession", NU.nl reports.

The NOC*NSF hopes that this will help restore calm. "He is still damaging the sport", an anonymous board member said to the Volkskrant. Another board member added that calm can not be restored without effort. "And we are after all the face of Dutch sport. It is up to us to do something."

Last year Eurlings' girlfriend , leaving her with a broken elbow, a concussion and numerous bruises. The case was eventually handled behind closed doors and to avoid a court case. Eurlings got community service and a notation on his criminal record.

The NOC*NSF previously asked Eurlings to step down from the board because of these allegations, according to NU.nl. But Eurlings refused, saying that he is innocent. The committee then changed its statutes so that board members now need to have a Declaration of Good Behavior. Eurlings got such a document and was allowed to keep his job. 

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