Peter Foley, the longtime U.S. snowboard coach, is no longer a part of U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Foley was temporarily suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on Friday, ahead of a formal investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct by former snowboarders.
The members of the U.S. snowboard team were told of his departure Sunday. U.S. Ski and Snowboard declined to say whether he was terminated or he resigned.
Foley had been the coach since the team’s inception in 1994, leading it to 35 medals at seven Olympic Games.
Allegations against Foley became public a month ago during the Beijing Games when Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, a 2010 Olympian in snowboard cross, made a series of Instagram posts accusing him of sexual misconduct and two male athletes of inappropriate behavior. Foley said at the time, “I vehemently deny the allegations.”
After the allegations were made public, Foley wasn’t allowed to access the Athletes’ Village during the Beijing Games. Lindsey Jacobellis confirmed Foley wasn’t able to attend film review sessions before she and Nick Baumgartner won gold in the mixed-team snowboard cross event.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard opened an investigation before more women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct last week, prompting the U.S. Center for SafeSport to investigate. Howard Jacobs, Foley’s attorney, said his client was not involved in any wrongdoing.
“Any allegations of sexual misconduct being made against him are false,” Jacobs told ESPN on Sunday. “Mr. Foley has not engaged in any conduct that violates the SafeSport Code, and he will cooperate with the U.S. Center for SafeSport when and if they contact him.”