Internal communications reveal that the World Surf League has hired an expert to review its policies amid sexual assault allegations and pointed criticism in mainstream media. The WSL announced on October 11 that it had suspended a surfer — who we’ve verified as Mexico’s Alan Cleland Jr. — for “allegations of a deeply serious nature.”
In an October 23 communication to its surfers, which the WSL shared with The Inertia, the League’s CEO Ryan Crosby revealed they’d hired Fiona de Jong, a former lawyer and former CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee, to review policies and procedures in November. De Jong’s role was first reported by the New York Times’ sports arm, The Athletic.
The documents also show that the WSL delivered the first communication to its athletes regarding the sexual assault allegations on October 14, three days after the news became public. The WSL created a dedicated email for surfers to connect with them on the matter, and also provided a link to send anonymous submissions.
“While we want to be as transparent as possible, we ask for your understanding and patience with the sensitivities and legal processes we must respect and protect,” Crosby said in the October 14 email. “I’m sure there are plenty of questions, but given these considerations, we may not be able to answer them all.”
Crosby also said reviews of “frameworks and standards for conduct and athlete safety” are routine.
After allegations spread about the gathering in Teahupo’o involving Cleland, an Australian teenager, and three other men — two of whom are reportedly photographers — mainstream media followed with reports amplifying the story. USA Today published an article and The Athletic narrowed its focus on WSL policies that prevent surfers from speaking out negatively about the League.
The WSL rulebook (page 91) says surfers can be fined up to $100,000 for acts that cast “the sport of surfing or WSL in a negative light, which shall include any comments which disparage WSL Tour and Event sponsors, Judges, opponents, WSL management, WSL representatives or otherwise dispute or disparage the Event judging.” It includes “any comments by a surfer or a member of their support staff on any other person’s social media.”
DeMaurice Smith, former executive director of the National Football League Players Association, told The Athletic that the policy “creates a chilling effect on free speech.” The WSL justified the rule, saying the intention “is to protect the integrity of the league.”
“It is written to prevent misconduct, or public dispute and disparagement of judges, competitors, sponsors, and employees,” the WSL told The Athletic. “It is not intended to prevent our competitors from speaking up on serious issues.”
Authorities in French Polynesia have confirmed that an investigation is underway regarding the August 13 allegations following the Tahiti Pro. Despite initial reports in Tahitian media that indicated no investigation had been opened as of October 12, Stephanie Pradelle, public prosecutor in the Papeete Prosecutor’s Office, told The Athletic that when her office received the allegations, they immediately triggered a preliminary sexual assault and rape investigation.
While we search for answers regarding Cleland’s direct role in the incident, as well as that of the three other men, the WSL and Papeete Prosecutor’s Office refuse to provide further details around Cleland’s suspension and the investigation. Rumors continue to swirl online. A source in Tahiti told us the sexual assault allegations had been known in Teahupo’o for at least a month before they became public, and the WSL, and at least one of Cleland’s sponsors, had known about the accusations for at least a few weeks. Cleland’s top sponsors, Quiksilver and Monster, removed him from their websites after the allegations went public.
Pradelle told The Athletic that the investigation would take several months and stressed that French law works under the presumption of innocence.
Complicating the investigation, a source in Tahiti confirmed that neither the victim nor the suspects are in the country. Another source closer to Cleland told us he’s currently at home in Pascuales, Mexico, while the others’ locations remain unclear.
