Former wrestler 'shocked' by disciplinary decision after filing sexual assault complaint against coach

Warning: This story contains a description of sexual assault.

A former provincial championship wrestler who came forward claiming her coach sexually assaulted her at a party when she was a teenager is disappointed with what she describes as the "ridiculous" Canadian complaints process, saying it left her afraid for the safety of other young athletes. 

Madison Payette, now 26, learned last month that her old coach, Aso Palani, had been suspended after a disciplinary panel found, on a balance of probabilities, that he had assaulted her when she was 17.

The coach was suspended for three years, half of which is already over — meaning he will be free to return to work with youth in February 2025.

"It's ridiculous," said Payette, speaking in an exclusive interview with CBC.

"You're going to say that it did happen, on the balance of probability … but you're only going to give him three years? And you're willingly going to let him go and continue to work with minors?

"It's absolutely shocking."

Palani, 36, "vehemently" denied the allegation of sexual assault during the hearing. He did not respond to requests for an interview and plans to appeal the decision. 

Despite the panel finding in her favour, Payette says her case highlights the grueling reality of the patchwork sports disciplinary process in Canada, which is still inconsistent across the country despite public discourse calling for improvements for years. 

For all the talk around safety in sports, Payette says, the reality behind the scenes is still far more difficult for athletes who step forward.

Wrestling Canada added Palani's name to a list of suspended coaches in March 2022, but the full decision from the B.C. Wrestling Association — which explained the reason for his suspension — was not made public for seven weeks, despite repeated requests from Payette's legal team. 

The decision was posted online Tuesday, the day after CBC News contacted Wrestling Canada to request an interview.

In a statement, the national organization said "there was never a decision not to publish the full details of the suspension."

Payette started wrestling as a high school student in her hometown of Edmonton. Under her father's coaching, she went on to compete provincially and nationally, as well as for the University of Alberta.