The Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) Ethics Commission – a body acting independently of the International Federation’s administration – has rendered its decision in the case involving Mr Ladislav Demko, a Slovak national who was, at the time of the facts, Head of Performance of the UCI Women’s Continental Team Hess Cycling Team.
The proceedings followed several complaints submitted to the Commission by former staff members of that team, concerning professional misconduct, and by a rider formerly coached by Mr Demko and with whom he had a consensual personal relationship and with whom he cohabited, concerning allegations of harassment and psychological abuse. Some of these complaints were received through the UCI SpeakUp reporting platform.
The Commission opened a formal investigation and, in the course of its proceedings, collected documentary evidence, heard complainants and was assisted by an independent external trauma-informed investigator engaged at its request. Mr Demko was invited on several occasions to submit his written comments and was afforded the opportunity to be heard and to call witnesses.
Based on the elements brought to its attention, the Commission concluded that Mr Demko’s conduct towards the riders and staff of the team – in particular the habitual use of aggressive and disrespectful language in the working environment, the unsafe and intimidating driving of team vehicles, and demeaning remarks concerning the physical appearance of staff and riders – had fallen short of the standards of integrity, care and diligence required of persons bound by the UCI Code of Ethics, and had involved an abuse of the position he held within the team.
The Commission further concluded that Mr Demko’s conduct towards the athlete he coached had involved acts of isolation – including requests to sever contact with persons she trusted, the dictation of the content of her messages to them, and a threatening message addressed to her psychologist –, humiliation by way of public denigration on social media, intimidation – including threats to disclose personal information and a threat directed against a person she trusted –, and infantilisation. These acts, which persisted after the end of their relationship, had the effect of diminishing her sense of identity, dignity and self-worth. The fact that the above conduct arose within a consensual personal relationship between two adults did not remove it from the scope of the UCI Code of Ethics, given the coaching and dependent relationship between Mr Demko and the rider.
As a result, Mr Demko was found to have committed breaches of Articles 5 (General principles) and 6.4 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the UCI Code of Ethics, read together with Article 2.1 (Psychological abuse) of Appendix 1 of the UCI Code of Ethics. Article 2.6 (Minors and other dependent persons) of Appendix 1 of the UCI Code of Ethics was retained as an aggravating circumstance.
The Commission imposed a ban on Mr Demko from taking part in any cycling-related activity organised by the UCI or any of its affiliates for a period of 10 years, as well as a fine. Mr Demko was further ordered to bear the costs of the proceedings.
The UCI acknowledges the courage of the individuals who came forward in this matter, and recalls that any form of harassment or abuse is incompatible with the values of cycling.
The UCI takes note of the decision of the Ethics Commission – which remains subject to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of cycling and to ensuring a safe environment for all those who take part in the sport.
In line with this objective, the UCI issues a reminder that it provides a confidential and secure reporting platform, UCI SpeakUp, where individuals are encouraged to report any safeguarding or ethics concerns.