From Calgary, CAN
(Sept. 28, 2019) – The saga of Kaillie Humphries’ release from Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) appears to be over.
Humphries filed a harassment complaint with BCS on January 19, 2019, a few months after announcing she was taking a year away from the sport of bobsled. At the beginning of August, USA Bobsled & Skeleton (USABS) and Humphries filed a request for Humphries to be released by BCS so she could compete for the United States
Initially, BCS refused, stating that they were still investigating the harassment complaint. The Canadian organization eventually came to the conclusion that there was “insufficient evidence” of Humphries’ claims. Humphries, in turn, filed a lawsuit in Canadian courts to gain her release from BCS. A judge dismissed that suit a few days later.
Just over ten days after the dismissal of the suit, BCS decided to allow Humphries to slide for the United States.
In a statement released on the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton website, BCS said: “This was not an easy decision, nor was it one we took lightly. Alongside our stakeholders, we carefully weighed all the relevant factors in this important and complex decision of releasing a medal-potential athlete to one of our top competitors. Ultimately, we firmly believe that supporting our current athletes and the positive culture they have developed as a team will foster the environment we need to successfully grow our sport and slide onto the international podium both now, and in the future.”
The release allows Humphries to compete for the United States going forward. Humphries, who is newly married to an American, will likely be “USA-1” for the coming season with Elana Meyers Taylor taking the season off with a child on the way.
In a statement released by USA Bobsled & Skeleton, USABS Chairman Emeritus and Interim CEO John Rosen said that the organization was “honored by [Humphries’] desire to continue her sliding career with the USA”.
For the full text of the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton release, click here. For the text of the USA release, click here.
