Can Mirjami Penttinen coach in the World Cup? “Team Unique is going to the games,” answers the executive director of the association

coach Mirjami Penttinen a trip to the World Championships in figure skating in April is at stake.

Helsingin Sanomat said on Wednesday based on his report that Penttinen has continued to behave inappropriately towards underage skaters. The Finnish Sports Ethics Center (Suek) has taken the matter into preliminary investigation.

Helsingfors Skridskoklubb (HSK) transferred Penttinen from coaching the Team Mystique junior team in February. In addition to the Juniors, Penttinen also pilots the adults’ Team Unique team, which took silver in the weekend’s Championship.

The second place earned Team Unique a place at the World Championships in April, but the fate of Penttinen’s journey to the competition is open, says Taitoluisteliito’s executive director Salla Mäkelä.

“Suek is about to start a preliminary report on this. That information has come after the federal government has decided which teams will go to the World Championships. The federal government will discuss this and make decisions on the matter. But Team Unique will go to the games,” commented Mäkelä.

“I can’t give a more precise timetable for the decision.”

The World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Salzburg, Austria on 10-11. April. Finland’s second representative is Helsinki Rockettes, who won the championship gold.

In the case of HS four athletes and four parents told about naming, humiliating and controlling that Penttinen has been guilty of. Mäkelä describes the information as mostly new.

“We do not accept inappropriate behavior in any situation. After all, this is a huge disappointment for us as an association. Our goal is for skating to be a safe and enjoyable hobby for everyone. I am sorry that we have not succeeded in this.”

In 2023, the association received information from Suek, the Finnish sports ethics center, about anonymous contacts and received a report on the measures from HSK. In the past two years, no reports have been made to the association about Penttinen’s behavior.

According to HS’s information, there is an atmosphere in the club where people are afraid to bring up grievances and their own opinion. Mäkelä calls for transparency and says it gives a better chance to tackle problems.

“Liito has limited opportunities to intervene in a situation where reports have been made anonymously, meaning we have no interested parties.”

“If we think about how we can protect athletes better, the most important thing is that they come and tell us about the problems so that we can catch them.”

Mäkelä sees that the union can still improve when it comes to reporting inappropriate behavior through reporting channels. Even then, the courage to use the channel remains.

“Yes, we have to have such an environment and social culture where you dare to express your opinion and talk about things.”

Figure Skating Association the selection of punishments for clubs starts with a warning. Next is a warning, then a fine. The most severe are temporary or temporary removal of the right to compete and/or temporary or temporary closure of operations.

Mäkelä does not comment on what kind of punishment HSK might expect from Penttinen’s actions.

“The matter is progressing in such a way that Suek will first do a preliminary investigation. After that, we will know where this will go.”