On November 10, 2020, Athletics Illustrated reported that Kenneth Porter, former Ottawa Lions coach was charged with sexual assualt.
The then 72-year-old Porter was suspended in March 2019 as president of the Ottawa Lions pending an Athletics Canada investigation. The allegations are based on sex abuse against teen male track athletes, throughout the 1970s to 2019.
I'm so glad this trial has finally started. It's been 5 years since we published our investigation into Ken Porter. The victims, tho, have waited for their day in court for decades. I wish them strength – it's not easy to testify. Story by @jonnywakefield https://t.co/ED62r3bqG1
— loriculbert (@loriculbert) June 17, 2024
Following years of delays, Porter was arrested and charged at Edmonton Police Service headquarters with five counts of indecent assault on a male and five counts of gross indecency. He faced the Edmonton courtroom starting Monday, June 17. The trial by judge is expected to last two weeks.
Two complaints against Porter were from male athletes in Ottawa in recent years while the other seven were members of the Edmonton Olympic Track and Field Club who allege abuse when they were 15 or 16 dating back to the 70s. Some of the former male athletes now live in the province of British Columbia.
Previous to his arrest, Porter was president and a coach with the Ottawa Lions Athletics Club until his dismissal in March 2019.
The original Edmonton Police Service statement reads
It is alleged that between 1976 and 1980, Kenneth Thomas Porter, 72, who was a coach with the Edmonton Olympic Track and Field Club, sexually assaulted five underage teen males, while under his supervision.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred during track meets held in Calgary and Edmonton, during that time period. Edmonton Police Service Sexual Assault investigators formally launched an investigation into the allegations surrounding Porter in April 2019.
Athletics Canada’s March 2019 statement
The Athletics Canada Commissioner’s Office announced today that Andy McInnis and Ken Porter of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club have been suspended effective immediately from Athletics Canada, its branches and clubs, until the completion of an ongoing investigation.
Athletics Canada views ethical conduct as a cornerstone in the fair administration of the sport of athletics. Everyone participating in athletics as an athlete, coach, integrated support team, administrator, volunteer, or staff member is entitled to participate in an environment that is free of harassment or discrimination.
Athletics Canada recognizes that it has a role in ensuring that a respectful environment exists in training, in competition, and in the workplace. Athletics Canada further expresses that it is imperative for the sport that participants conduct themselves with the highest level of ethical conduct on the field of play and in conducting Athletics Canada activities or business.
Please follow this link to read the complete decision from the Office of the Athletics Canada Commissioner regarding the Andy McInnis investigation.
Please follow this link to read the complete decision from the Office of the Athletics Canada Commissioner regarding the Ken Porter investigation.
Two months later, the two were officially expelled by Athletics Canada.
