{"id":296846,"date":"2023-12-14T01:25:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T01:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=296846"},"modified":"2023-12-14T01:25:21","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T01:25:21","slug":"bha-issues-apology-over-bullying-and-sexual-misconduct-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/horse-racing\/bha-issues-apology-over-bullying-and-sexual-misconduct-reports\/","title":{"rendered":"BHA issues apology over bullying and sexual misconduct reports"},"content":{"rendered":"
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has ramped up its safeguarding procedures in an urgent move to protect the wellbeing of everyone involved in the industry.<\/p>\n
Since 2018, the BHA have received and investigated more than 350 incidents of safeguarding and human welfare concerns, the bulk of which were based around sexual misconduct.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The most worrying aspect of that figure is that close to 120 of those incidents happened this year alone.<\/p>\n
Julie Harrington, the BHA\u2019s Chief Executive, said that, for horseracing to flourish, it \u201cdepends on the health and happiness of the people within the sport\u201d and the governing body are determined to make the environment healthy and welcoming for all.<\/p>\n
The shocking evidence that the BHA have found ties in with a study, conducted by Durham University\u2019s Dr Eleanor Boden between 2015 and 2020 as part of her PhD; she studied study into gender inequalities and the experiences of aspirational young women in the racing industry.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dr Boden\u2019s report was made public on Wednesday \u2013 The BHA have had it since 2021 \u2013 and the findings are remarkable with young women disclose they feel the need to leave the industry for feeling like they don\u2019t belong and some under the impression that pregnancy will hinder their career prospects.<\/p>\n
Harrington said: \u2018Racing is not immune to problems like bullying and sexual misconduct, and I know that for women in particular, it has often been easier to keep your head down and suffer in silence.<\/p>\n
\u2018I am truly sorry to hear the stories of bullying, sexual misconduct and, in some cases, serious sexual abuse. This has no place in British racing \u2013 or wider society.\u2019<\/p>\n
Anyone who needs help, support or has witnessed or experience any unacceptable behaviour, should report it, with confidence, to respect@britishhorseracing.com, or call the BHA\u2019s confidential reporting service, RaceWISE on 08000 852 580.<\/p>\n