Bev Priestman, the head coach of the Canadian women's national soccer team, has been removed from her position for the remainder of the Paris Games after two staffers were caught using a drone to spy on an opponent.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) has suspended Bev Priestman, head coach of the women's national soccer team, for the remainder of the Paris Games. The decision comes after two team staffers were allegedly caught using a drone to spy on a New Zealand practice.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi were "sent home immediately" for allegedly using the drone to film two closed-door New Zealand training sessions on Monday. Lombardi was arrested and sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to the charges.
Canadian Soccer Coach Removed After Drone Spying Incident
Priestman, who has denied involvement in the incident, initially volunteered to step away from the club prior to the committee's decision. However, the COC has since announced that "additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."
Priestman has been suspended from her duties until the end of the tournament and the completion of the organization's independent external review. The COC said in a statement that it "stands for fair play, and we are shocked and disappointed."
Canadian Soccer Coach Removed After Drone Spying Incident
The alleged drone incident has cast a shadow over the Canadian team's preparations for the Paris Games. Canada is in Group A along with host country France and Colombia. The team will open its tournament against France on July 25.
Priestman was hired in November 2020 to succeed Kenneth Heiner-Møller and had been working on a rolling contract. She led Canada to a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics, but the team was eliminated in the group stage of last year's Women's World Cup.
Canadian Soccer Coach Removed After Drone Spying Incident
The COC's decision to suspend Priestman is a significant setback for the Canadian team. Priestman is a highly respected coach who has a strong track record of success. Her absence will be a major blow to the team's chances of winning a medal in Paris.
The incident also raises questions about the ethics of using drones in sports. The use of drones to spy on opponents is a violation of fair play and could give one team an unfair advantage. It is important for sports organizations to establish clear rules and regulations regarding the use of drones to ensure that they are not used to gain an unfair advantage.
The Canadian team has been involved in several controversies in recent months. In February, the team was stripped of its bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after it was revealed that several players had used performance-enhancing drugs. The team also withdrew from a match against Mexico in February due to a labor dispute.
The drone spying incident is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Canadian team. The team will need to put these controversies behind it and focus on the task at hand if it wants to succeed in Paris.
