Former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who was convicted on three felony counts of sexual assault on Thursday, June 2, for his 2015 assault of an unconscious woman behind a dumpster, has been banned for life by USA Swimming.
In a statement released to USA Today on Monday, June 6, USA Swimming spokesman Scott Leightman stated that one-time Olympic hopeful Turner, 20, is not and never will be eligible to compete at any USA Swimming events (which includes Olympic trials).
“Brock Turner’s membership with USA Swimming expired at the end of the calendar year 2014,” Leightman told USA Today. “He was not a member at the time of his crime or since then. USA Swimming doesn’t have any jurisdiction over non-members.”
Leightman went on to say that USA Swimming’s code of conduct is very clear about sex offenses. “Brock Turner is not a member of USA Swimming and, should he apply, he would not be eligible for membership. … Had he been a member, he would be subject to the USA Swimming Code of Conduct,” Leightman explained. “USA Swimming strictly prohibits and has zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, with firm Code of Conduct policies in place, and severe penalties, including a permanent ban of membership, for those who violate our Code of Conduct.”
Last week, the Ohio native was sentenced to six months in jail followed by a three-year probation because the judge believed prison would have “a severe impact on him.” On Thursday, June 9, the Associated Press revealed that Turner will only serve three months. Turner’s light sentence has sparked public outrage.
As Us Weekly previously reported, two male graduate students noticed Turner on top of an unconscious woman on January 18, 2015. The students tackled him after he tried to flee, and then called the police.
Turner’s victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, opened up to BuzzFeed News on Friday, June 3, about her attacker’s lenient punishment. “Even if the sentence is light, hopefully this will wake people up,” the woman said. “I want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire. If anything, this is a reason for all of us to speak even louder.”
