2023-10-20
Coach of the Brazilian BMX racing team. Dieflame Balthazarwas removed from his position, it was reported on Friday Confederation Brazilian Cycling (CBC), in the lead-up to the method’s premiere at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
The temporary suspension was announced in Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) through a letter sent on Monday, after the CBC received “two complaints on its ombudsman channel” on October 6 and 12, the cycling entity said in a statement, without providing details about the accusations.
However, the news only became known on Friday through a press post on the UOL Esports portal. Without providing details, media reported that “someone from the Brazilian delegation” accused the former athlete of harassment, which denies these accusations.
The memo sent to Agence France-Presse said: “Out of an abundance of caution, and to protect the athletes, the coach and all concerned, we have informed the COB of the decision to temporarily suspend the coach.”
He added: “These complaints have been sent for analysis and processing by the CBC Ethics Committee.”
According to UOL Esporte, the four Brazilian riders – two men and two women – learned that Baltazar had been removed from his position before traveling to the Chilean capital.
The case came to light a day before the start of the men’s and women’s individual time trial classifications, which will be held on Saturday in Pinalolin Park, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Sunday is the finals.
Brazilian Paula Reis (24 years old), who won silver at the Pan American Games Lima 2019, is competing for the podium in the women’s BMX race, where Colombian Mariana Pagon, the icon of this global sport, is the most likely candidate to get gold.