In a communication sent to Néomédia, Patrick Victor, Vice-President of Operations for the Association de field hockey mineur de Vaudreuil-Dorion (AHMVD), is unequivocal: "the association is committed at all times to applying any recommendations or sanctions received from the Complaints Officer under the Integrity Protection Policy".

Earlier this week, the Journal de Montréal published the testimony of three young field hockey players from the AHMVD Titans Bantam A (U15) team who, on the eve of the start of the playoffs, lodged a formal complaint with the Office of the Complaints Officer for the Protection of Integrity in Sports, against their head coach Michel Gualtieri.

According to Le Journal, the complaint, which was accepted by the Complaints Officer's Office, alleges a toxic climate within the team. The three young athletes behind the complaint, Nathan Rose, Justin André and Ulrik Lacoste, denounce, among other things, the psychological harassment, tantrums, unjustified disciplinary measures, abuse of power and discrimination to which they were subjected by their head coach. 

According to the Journal, Gualtieri has in the past committed such acts against young players as young as 8. It was only this year, after a season without any outbursts, that the AHMVD put him back in charge of a team. 

In accordance with its Integrity Protection Policy, AHMVD is obliged to respect the confidential status of the complaint. It is therefore impossible at this time to know what sanctions will be imposed on Michel Gualtieri. A case to follow.

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