For the second time in less than a week, a male boxer participating at the 2016 Rio Olympics has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
Namibian boxer Jonas Junius was arrested on Monday, after it was alleged he attempted to sexually assault a housekeeper at the Olympic Village.
JUST IN: Jonas Junius, Olympic boxer from Namibia, arrested for attempted sex assault of a housekeeper in Olympic Village, police say
— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) August 8, 2016
Junius, 22, was the flag bearer for Namibia at Opening Ceremonies. Police say he tried to force himself on a housekeeper.
— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) August 8, 2016
Junius was the flag bearer for Namibia at the opening ceremony.
Junius isn’t the first athlete arrested for sexual assault at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Moroccan boxer Hassan Saada was arrested on Friday after allegedly assaulting two Brazilian housekeepers at the Olympic Village. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Saada “groped the breast” of one of the housekeepers, and inappropriately “touched the thigh” of another one. Saada’s exact criminal charges are unknown.
It’s incredibly awful to see Olympic athletes, who are supposed to be at the games in the spirit of competition, take what should be cherished time to allegedly assault housekeepers, who have a tough enough job as it is. Junius and Saada’s alleged assaults might not be linked directly with one another, but it’s a detriment on the sport that both allegations have come strictly from the men’s boxing field.
Junius and Saada’s arrests are hopefully the last time we hear about athletes allegedly acting criminally towards Olympic staff members. Their alleged actions overshadow the entire event.
[The Independent, Image via The Namibian]