Cycling South Africa notes and welcomes high court judgment in the matter of Mr shaun Nick Bester

[capediver]

2 minutes ago, Iwan Kemp said:

Oh, my.

He was found guilty. Three times. I don't know what happened, but the ADULT in the room clearly did not make the decision he should have. REGARDLESS OF WHAT SOME 17-YEAR-OLDS WOULD DO. 

Your posts read like the kind of argument why victims don't come forward. Let's assume she played a role in whatever happened; HE was the adult in the room; HE crossed the line. If he wasn't guilty, surely somewhere along the line one of his appeals whould have stuck?
 

So you were part of the disciplinary inquiry, or do you also only have one side of it and decided to run with it? 
 

As far as I can remember, what was called into question is his self-proclaimed "the most qualified coach in South Africa". That's not quite saying he's a bad coach. Although I say that related to his actual cycling coaching and not his ethics in a broader sense. I think being found guilty, THREE TIMES, of sexual grooming makes you an actual bad coach.

 

Like quite a few hubbers are, to be honest. Some hubbers are more in the racing scene than some racers. Not sure what your point is here.

Maybe you missed this:
https://www.cyclingsa.com/cycling-south-africa-shaun-nick-bester/

Some bits from it:
- The notices accused Bester of sexual grooming, harassment and abuse.
- The appeal panel concluded that in respect of two of the charges related to one of the victims, the appeal was dismissed, in respect of three of the charges related to the other victim, similarly the appeal was dismissed.- Two of the charges related to one of the victims, the appeal was upheld.  Bester was found to be guilty of five of the charges of misconduct.
- In the finding dealing with the sanction, the appeal panel recorded its awareness to “numerous incidents of inappropriate sexual conduct”.
- As locus parentis Bester should have shown more discretion and judgment.  Instead, he was grooming the victims.

 

Really a terrible post on all counts on your part. 

Let the guys speak up! If he has the other side of the story, or there is "more to the story", then he should speak up, exonerate the accused and convicted...clearly, none of what he apparently purports to know ever came out in any hearing over all these years...again, shame on you for sitting on this evidence....

If he is cleared of all these charges because of the evidence you now have, then we all will hang our heads in shame for being so judgemental...

[Iwan Kemp]

4 minutes ago, capediver said:

Let the guys speak up! If he has the other side of the story, or there is "more to the story", then he should speak up, exonerate the accused and convicted...clearly, none of what he apparently purports to know ever came out in any hearing over all these years...again, shame on you for sitting on this evidence....

If he is cleared of all these charges because of the evidence you now have, then we all will hang our heads in shame for being so judgemental...

Good point. 

If this is true
 

Quote

I remember the situation and won’t discuss details here, but there is definitely more to it, and people in the actual cycling/ racing community know what went on and that things weren’t as black-and-white as social media makes it sound.

...then he and all of those who know the details should and could have been called as witnesses, and SNB would have been found not guilty, and get on with coaching as usual. Oh, wait, apparently he is out there coaching in any case.

[Martin Albrecht]

3 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

People are speaking as if they know exactly what happened when not one of you actually know anything. I remember the situation and won’t discuss details here, but there is definitely more to it, and people in the actual cycling/ racing community know what went on and that things weren’t as black-and-white as social media makes it sound.

Lets not act as if 17 year olds are innocent.  Situations like this are often more complicated than outsiders assume. What’s also not okay is dragging his wife and personal life into this, families shouldn’t be targeted. Discussing his wife is totally not fair. 

And calling him a bad coach because of him saying he is the best qualified coach in SA or whatever you guys said has nothing to do with the matter and just turns this into personal attacks. 

If it was "my daughter" comments is silly.  Peoples daughters still train with him because guess what.. theres more to the story. 

As many others have mentioned, we all only have the parts of the story that we have access to. If you somehow know the whole story that exonerates SNB, why not share it with us? Why didn’t you share it with the CSA panel, or the high court? 
 

Also, anyone who thinks 17 year old girls are innocent is a fool and very naive. It’s exactly because we know how “provocative” they may be that people in positions of power, like coaches, should practice better discretion. A married man in a locus parentis role over underage girls simply doesn’t engage them if they begin to display unacceptable advances, and most definitely doesn’t watch porn with them, or engage in text message exchanges about anything other than the business of coaching them. In fact, if they begin behaving in a “not so innocent way”, a responsible adult would insist on only communicating with them in an environment where a third party is present, or via the parent/guardian etc. 

 

the story about his wife being brought up, was brought up by me. I did that because I followed the story closely at the time when this broke. And at that time, they sent out a press release saying she would be running the business while he steps aside until the outcome of the hearing. 
 

now the outcome has come and gone, and his name is still on everything, and he still seems to be fronting the coaching business. Despite the ban. 
 

Regarding his claims of being one of the highest qualified coaches in South Africa deserves being scrutinized, since he fails that standard on ethics alone, but also on his acclaimed qualifications. There are loads of coaches in South Africa with much more advanced qualifications, that do not claim to be “the most qualified/highest qualified coaches. 

[IceCreamMan]

2 hours ago, Iwan Kemp said:

Somehow missed this. So you're openly saying that, despite the ban, he is still coaching? 

He is banned from participating in CSA events and coaching under the CSA umbrella.. He is not banned from coaching at all and nor is he banned from participating in events other than CSA events. 
 

 

 

[Daniel Christensen]

Some of you guys seem very pressed that I’m sharing my opinion and perspective, calling me a troll 😪 ... this is a forum chat after all.

Even some of you agreed that there is likely more to the story and now you know this to be true, and that situations involving 17-year-olds can be more complex than people assume, even though they are still minors.

Im not going to share any details online because I’m not interested in getting my account banned or turning this into rumours and speculation — especially when most people here don’t even use their real names.

What people also need to understand is that CSA investigated complaints and imposed a sporting sanction, and Shaun paid big money to take CSA to High Court saying that CSAs reviewing process was unfair. And he lost, it doesnt mean he is guilty. 

Innocent until proven guilty right? Not big ol Jannet from CSA playing judge, jury and executioner. 

If this guy bothers you all so much, lets get him on the phone and ask him what happened 🤷🏼 

 

 

[bleedToWin]

42 minutes ago, Daniel Christensen said:

If this guy bothers you all so much, lets get him on the phone and ask him what happened

As you say, it's a public forum. As hy iets het om te se kan hy maar kom se, ons is hier.

[bleedToWin]

43 minutes ago, Daniel Christensen said:

situations involving 17-year-olds can be more complex than people assume, even though they are still minors.

When grown men are inappropriate with 18 or 19 year children it's still a problem, just not a legal problem.

[IceCreamMan]

33 minutes ago, bleedToWin said:

When grown men are inappropriate with 18 or 19 year children it's still a problem, just not a legal problem.

Maybe why charges were never laid and family(ies) decided not to pursue it all. 
 

however , at a minimum, serious lack of judgement. 
 

 

[Martin Albrecht]

10 hours ago, IceCreamMan said:

Maybe why charges were never laid and family(ies) decided not to pursue it all. 
 

however , at a minimum, serious lack of judgement. 
 

 

Nope. In the SNB case, the victims were all legally minors. So that excuse doesn’t hold water. 
 

He probably also had inappropriate relations with clients who were technically adults, but the ban is in connection to clients who were all minors at the time (and some may even still be now)

[J Wakefield]

13 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

Some of you guys seem very pressed that I’m sharing my opinion and perspective, calling me a troll 😪 ... this is a forum chat after all.

Even some of you agreed that there is likely more to the story and now you know this to be true, and that situations involving 17-year-olds can be more complex than people assume, even though they are still minors.

 

 

 

Sure we all know what 17yr olds are like in today's times, this is no secret, social media is proof of this. HOWEVER no matter what any 17yr old does, sends, provides etc to Grown Adult, married with Kids, there is an ethical responsibility on the correct way to act in this situation. Just cause your friends jump in the fire, are you? 

That is where this all comes into play and HIS actions whether started or not with the responsibility as a coach to young kids - they are kids. There is no defence to that. There is alot more info and proof going around on this than defending here. 
 

[justinafrika]

23 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

situations involving 17-year-olds can be more complex than people assume, even though they are still minors.

 

You appear to be associated in some way with SNB, and have stated that you're closer to the events than most here.  Certainly, you're an SNB apologist.  Have you chosen to ignore SNB's involvement also with the other complainant in the resolved matter, a 14 year old child? 

Edit:  You earlier clearly implied  that you know far more than anyone else commenting here.  Why then do you choose to omit that he showed porn videos to the 14 year old kid?  And that was earlier in his efforts to coerce the child.

Edited February 21 by justinafrika

[ChrisF]

2 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

 

You appear to be associated in some way with SNB, and have stated that you're closer to the events than most here.  Certainly, you're an SNB apologist.  Have you chosen to ignore SNB's involvement also with the other complainant in the resolved matter, a 14 year old child? 

 

If this kid is 17 today .... then he was 13 or 14 at the time of the transgressions ....

 

 

All stories have multiple sides .... but noting the consistent results of multiple appeals .... not taking advice from a then impressionable kid in this matter.

 

 

Sad reality .... these attempts to shield the perp speaks volumes of "child grooming" .... and why most countries are strict on this ..... except when billiinaires are being protected ....

[Bro Derek]

Hang on.... Isn't he also married with a kid?

So a married man with a child is somewhat excused for being a sexual predator of minors because 17 year olds can look hot and be provocative and initiate inappropriate behavior?

Yoh..... 

That starts looking a lot like the 'she had it coming for wearing that bikini' argument.

We are responsible for the decisions we make. Saying 'NO' isn't that difficult, unless it is, which means you have a problem

[capediver]

3 hours ago, Bro Derek said:

Hang on.... Isn't he also married with a kid?

So a married man with a child is somewhat excused for being a sexual predator of minors because 17 year olds can look hot and be provocative and initiate inappropriate behavior?

Yoh..... 

That starts looking a lot like the 'she had it coming for wearing that bikini' argument.

We are responsible for the decisions we make. Saying 'NO' isn't that difficult, unless it is, which means you have a problem

Ja but ....but but....he took them to court...(not about the accusation but about the ban) and it cost him a lot of money but he lost.....so he's not guilty....

 

All of this and he "still has clients"...

 

nah hard to believe...the community is too small...if you going to defend your mate then you have to have better evidence for your statements. If his "clients" know of this, then that's on them, freedom of choice!

 

The fact that he is still out there proudly plying his trade in the community where the administrating body has permanently banned him from using their banner to do such trade, with "client's" that he was banned from "trading" with...this is what boggles me..this shows zero empathy or contrition and frankly a huge FU to the victims....

So again if there is evidence that he has been wrongly accused and convicted then it needs to be brought to the attention of the authorities so any injustices can be reversed...until then, challlenged CSA ban remains and he has to live with it, answereable to only one, and none of us...

 

[justinafrika]

Came across this earlier.  Team 360Life competing in the 2011 Tour of South Africa.  In hindsight I'd call it Team Notorious Biggie, or should that be BIG Notorious!?

 

Pretty sure the sharp-witted quipsters on here might have some pearlers...  😁😈

[DieselnDust]

23 hours ago, justinafrika said:

Came across this earlier.  Team 360Life competing in the 2011 Tour of South Africa.  In hindsight I'd call it Team Notorious Biggie, or should that be BIG Notorious!?

 

Pretty sure the sharp-witted quipsters on here might have some pearlers...  😁😈

nah, no quips from me. The first two chaps are actually really likeable guys. Did the crime completed the time.

Continuously bringing up those transgressions and painting them in the same light as a child sex groomer is nowhere near fair .

Edited April 16 by DieselnDust