Steven Van de Velde, 29, who will represent the Netherlands in the beach volleyball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was 10 years ago sentenced to four years in prison in the United Kingdom for raping a 12-year-old girl.
He was released in 2017 and that year returned to playing.
The Dutch Volleyball Federation said in a statement, issued after several British media outlets published the story, that they were aware of the facts and that they spoke “extensively” with Dutch Olympic Committee, the International Volleyball Federation and Van de Velde himself before his return to the sport.
“He was convicted according to English law and has served his sentence. We have been in constant contact with Steven, who has fully reintegrated into the Dutch volleyball community. He is proving to be an exemplary professional and human being and there has been no reason to doubt him since his return.”
In 2018, Van de Velde told Dutch broadcaster NOS, as reported by CNN: “I did what I did. I can’t get it back, so I will have to bear the consequences. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.
Van de Velde himself has expressed himself through the federative statement, noting that he was aware that “this dark episode” of his life would resurface and that he was grateful for the opportunity received.
“I understand that this, at the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract international media attention. My parents, friends, acquaintances and colleagues accepted me back after the biggest mistake of my young life. The federation offered me a future with clear conditions and agreements. But I also think about the teenager I was, insecure, not ready for a life as a top athlete and unhappy inside, because I didn’t know who I was and what I wanted.”
According to the Dutch Olympic Committee, Van de Velde meets the conditions under which an athlete can return to competition after a conviction. The IOC has stated that nominations of athletes are the exclusive competence of the national Olympic Committees.”