Argentine Olympic sailor’s ex-trainer arrested for alleged abuse

The former trainer of an Argentine Olympic sailor has been arrested in Buenos Aires over claims by the athlete and others that he sexually abused them in their teens, legal sources said Tuesday.

Leandro Tulia, 53, was arrested at his home in the capital Monday, near the Olivos Yacht Club where he coached for more than two decades until he was let go over the allegations.

Tulia coached Eugenia Bosco, 27, who won silver in Paris 2024 in the mixed Nacra 17 event — one of Argentina’s three medals at the Games. 

She filed a complaint against Tulia last October, two months after her Olympic success, and in January recounted the alleged abuse in an interview with the daily La Nacion.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s something that happened, that I couldn’t control. I was 11 or 12 years old and I put it aside until a few years ago when I realized” what happened, she said.

The alleged abuse occurred during competition trips, or when she stayed overnight at the yacht club for training. She lived in a city 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Buenos Aires at the time. 

At least six other women, also minors at the time of the alleged events from 2010 to 2013, filed complaints after the interview was published, prosecutor Lida Osores Soler told AFP in January.

Tulia will be questioned by a magistrate Tuesday, his lawyer Daniel Mazzocchini told AFP, over four complaints.

Mazzocchini has previously said the case would be difficult to prove given the alleged facts date back more than 15 years.