Elite athletes demand public inquiry into abuse in sports

Elite athletes appeared before a House of Commons committee Monday to accuse the federal government of doing nothing in response to abuse in sports and to demand a national public inquiry.

The athletes — who included Olympic boxer Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, soccer players Ciara McCormack and Andrea Neil, and fencer Emily Mason — told MPs about the physical and mental abuse they endured at the hands of coaches and others officials.

They said that abuse is rampant in multiple sports and they're calling for a fundamental re-think of how elite sports are governed in Canada.

The athletes said existing protections are inadequate and whistleblowers are often scared to come forward because they fear retribution from their abusers, many of whom still work in sport despite past allegations of wrongdoing.

McCormack told MPs she was forced to leave Canada for Ireland to escape abuse at the hands of Bob Birarda, a former Vancouver Whitecaps and national coach who recently was convicted of sex offences.

McCormack said she and others reported Birarda's abuse to Canada Soccer, the sport's governing body, but the organization protected this "known predator" for years.

She claimed Canada Soccer is riddled with "rampant conflicts of interest ... zero oversight" and financial mismanagement.

She said that such allegations should be probed through a national inquiry.

WATCH: 'I just feel ashamed ... to be a Canadian': professional soccer player

"It's shocking that there's nothing being done," McCormack said of the federal government.

"How many times do we have to keep telling you all how this has massively impacted our lives in a really substantial manner? I don't understand, on a human level, how you can literally witness this car accident over and over again and do nothing. It's very disappointing."

McCormack wondered aloud how seriously Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge and her government are taking the problem.

"Is she even watching? Is the prime minister watching? Are they watching?" she asked MPs. "It's so disappointing. I feel ashamed to be a Canadian."

St-Onge told reporters the government will do something to address athlete concerns but hasn't decided yet whether there should be a public inquiry or some sort of "investigation." Either way, the minister said, the process will be "trauma-informed."