Tackling transgressive behavior in sports: balancing between effective approach and protection of those involved Annotation to rb. Amsterdam

1. Introduction

Things are rumbling within the Royal Dutch Rowing Association (KNRB). After the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, a survey was conducted among athletes, which revealed dissatisfaction with the attitude and behavior of KNRB's technical director. Following observations of transgressive behavior within top-level sport, KNRB commissioned an external investigation (signal analysis) among eight athletes shortly thereafter. This study concluded that within the top-level sports program of KNRB there is evidence of, among other things, social insecurity and transgressive behavior. KNRB then suspended the technical director with immediate effect. Only a few days later, KNRB explained the suspension in writing: