Former manager Mario Lopez under investigation for sexual assault of minor

of Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) The organization has taken precautionary measures against a coach accused of sexual abuse of a player, including releasing an investigative file and banning him from issuing a license, a fact that the organization “denounces without mitigation.” .

According to El Pais, published this Sunday, the former coach and head of internal and sports management at Lointech Guernica said: mario lopezan incident that began in 1998, was reported for abusing an underage player for three years.

“In light of the information reported today by El Pais newspaper regarding allegations of sexual abuse in our sport, the Spanish Basketball Federation would like to express its strongest condemnation,” FEB said in a statement this Sunday.

mario lopez He was also the coach of the under-16, under-18 and under-19 women’s national teams.

“FEB was only partially aware of this matter based on a complaint received against the club on October 29 of the same year, which is currently under judicial proceedings for alleged sexual abuse. In the event of any kind of notification in this regard, the federation will immediately open an investigation file and contact the complainant, the defendant (club), the Basque Autonomous Federation, the Higher Sports Council and FIBA. “We have notified you,” the note said.

The federation added: “While the file is being substantiated, the FEB’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Violence has taken precautions such as not issuing licenses of any kind to anyone involved in competitions organized by the federation until a verdict is reached.” We have taken action,” he added. Please be firm about these facts. ”

He called on FIBA ​​to “extend these precautions internationally”.

According to El Pais newspaper, the complaint was filed in June last year, 21 years after the incident. Guernica. “Currently, the investigation has been delayed for various reasons, and we are currently awaiting an order for prosecution,” the newspaper said.

FEB emphasized that “this person does not hold a federation license issued by FEB and has no other professional relationship with the federation.”

“FEB’s commitment is to completely eradicate this type of behavior, but FEB considers this unacceptable and has had protocols and protection representatives in place since 2014 against this type of behavior. The federation’s policy in this area is very proactive and calls for the strengthening of monitoring mechanisms “in order to prevent this type of behavior from occurring in the Spanish basketball world,” he pointed out.

he Guernica KESBMeanwhile, the club said in a statement: “The club has not been officially aware of any public investigation to date. The only body that can inform the club of the facts is the FEB, which has just issued a resolution.” The club will comply immediately. ”

He concluded that “the club has distanced itself from the subjects of the investigation.”