The public prosecutor’s investigation in connection with allegations of abuse of power at the federal gymnastics base in Stuttgart is also directed against a current member of the DOSB board.
In connection with the allegations of abuse, the Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office is also investigating Michaela Röhrbein, currently a member of the board of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and therefore one of the highest leaders in German sport. Röhrbein told Deutschlandfunk at the weekend that the investigation relates to allegations of omission during her time as general secretary of the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB).
Röhrbein rejects allegations
The official held this position until 2022. She then moved to the DOSB board. The public prosecutor’s office accuses her of having… “inadequate defense measures” seized. She rejected this accusation to Deutschlandfunk as untenable. It contradicts all of their ethical principles. “I have been fighting against interpersonal violence for years and have always advocated for education with very clear consequences”said Röhrbein.
In the German Gymnastics Association, Michaela Röhrbein launched the “Performance with Respect” project in 2021. After the allegations made by top gymnasts against a coach at the Chemnitz Olympic training center, a cultural change in gymnastics should be brought about.
Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating 14 people
Numerous top gymnasts apparently didn’t feel respected or heard. A year ago they publicly drew attention to grievances at the Stuttgart Artistic Gymnastics Forum, among others. In this context, the public prosecutor’s office says it is investigating 14 people. In addition to trainers, these include current and former leaders of both the Swabian and German gymnastics associations.
This also includes Michaela Röhrbein. “The attempt, contrary to the facts, to accuse me of bodily harm due to my failure to protect athletes for my time at the DTB, which I have been committed to protecting for years, leaves me absolutely stunned after all the effort”said Röhrbein on Deutschlandfunk.
DOSB refers to Presumption of innocence
As a board member of the DOSB, protection against violence is also part of Röhrbein’s tasks. The DOSB writes that she has played a key role in promoting this topic in recent years. For example, she campaigned for the Safe Sport Code: a set of rules with which associations could also sanction violations below the criminal law threshold if they implement the code.
The DOSB points out that Röhrbein is presumed innocent and that the allegations “date back several years and have no connection with Röhrbein’s work for the DOSB”.
