The FEB opened a file against Mario López, former women's national team coach, after a complaint of sexual abuse

The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) opened an investigation file and issued precautionary measures, including the prohibition of issuing a license, against Mario López, a coach accused of alleged sexual abuse of a player, facts that the organization “condemns without palliatives.”

Mario López was national under-16, under-18 and under-19 women's coach.

López, head of internal and sports management at Lointek Gernika, was denounced for subjecting an underage player to abuse for three years, events that began in 1998, according to El País.

“Given the information published today about alleged sexual abuse committed in the field of our sport, the Spanish Basketball Federation wants to express its strongest condemnation,” the FEB said in a statement this Sunday.

“The FEB only had partial knowledge of this matter based on a complaint against the club received on October 29 of this same year.. This complaint alludes to the fact that, presumably, there is a judicial procedure underway for alleged sexual abuse.. Despite not having any notification of any kind in this regard, the Federation immediately initiated an investigation file and notified the complainant, the accused (the club), the Autonomous Federation of the Basque Country, the Higher Sports Council and FIBA. “, indicates the note.

The Federation adds that “while the file is being substantiated, the Advisory Committee against Sexual Violence of the FEB issued precautionary measures that prevent the issuance of any type of license to the person involved in the competitions organized by the Federation until there is a ruling. firm on these facts”. He has also asked FIBA that these precautionary measures “be extended internationally.”

According to El País, the complaint was filed in June of last year, 21 years after the events, in the courts of Gernika.. “Now, after an investigation process slowed down for various reasons, he is awaiting the indictment order,” the newspaper indicates.

The FEB emphasizes that “this person does not have a federative license issued by the FEB, nor does he have any other professional relationship with the Federation.”

“The commitment of the FEB is the complete eradication of this type of behavior, which it considers unacceptable and against which it has a Protocol and a Protection Delegate since 2014.. The Federation's policies in this field are very active and seek to increase surveillance mechanisms to try to ensure that no action of this type occurs in Spanish basketball,” he points out.