Three members of the US men’s fencing team wore pink face masks at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to protest their fourth teammate after he was accused of sexual misconduct by three different women.
Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez all wore pink face masks before the start of the men’s epee event. However, fencer Alen Hadzic, 29, wore a black mask instead. He is currently being investigated for sexual assault allegations.
“They decided to make a statement that they were not standing for him being there,” Buzzfeed News quoted a fencing athlete not participating in the Olympics.
“They wanted to make a distinction between themselves that they didn’t stand for sexual assault or abuse against women. These athletes wanted to have a voice where US Fencing and SafeSport failed.”
Hadzic joined the team in Japan as an alternate. He was accused of sexual misconduct in separate incidents between 2013 and 2015. He denied all the claims.
Team USA lost to Japan on Friday and finished in ninth place. While Hadzic did not play, his inclusion sparked controversy.
One of the accusers, in an interview with USA Today, spoke out against him.
“I think one case is enough for you to not be allowed to compete at the f—ing Olympics,” USA Today quoted the accuser as saying. “It really makes you question how far someone needs to go in order for them not to be able to compete.”
Hadzic, in an interview with USA Today, said he was initially welcomed by some of his fellow fencers and coaches upon his arrival.
“I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be like until I came here, and then when I actually got to the training facility all of the coaches shook my hand and congratulated me on making the team,” Hadzic told USA Today.
“All of the fencers that I thought would be afraid to speak with me, all came up to me and said hi. Even the women.”
As per a ‘safety plan’ put in place by the USA team, Hadzic was put under restrictions. He was kept away from female athletes and separated from the Olympic village. He also traveled separately.
