Sports · Other Sports · 1 hr ago
Surfer Alan Cleland suspended from World Surf League over allegations
The World Surf League has provisionally suspended Mexican surfer Alan Cleland from all league events.
The suspension follows allegations of a serious nature involving a teenager from New South Wales in Tahiti in August.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place at a private gathering, not at a surfing competition.
Cleland competed on the 2026 Men’s Championship Tour and represented Mexico at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Three other alleged perpetrators are not affiliated with the league.
The WSL has removed Cleland from its competition rankings and says it has offered assistance to authorities.
Police in New South Wales and Australia say local police in French Polynesia are handling the matter, but French Polynesian police have not confirmed whether an investigation is under way.
The WSL says its disciplinary process is continuing.
The World Surf League suspended Alan Cleland from all its events after learning of allegations involving an alleged sexual assault of a teenager from New South Wales.
The alleged incident took place at a private gathering in Tahiti in August and was not affiliated with a WSL competition.
Cleland, 24, competed on the 2026 Men’s Championship Tour after joining it last year.
The WSL said its Discipline Committee issued a provisional suspension and that it had offered assistance to relevant authorities.
Police in French Polynesia could not confirm whether an investigation was under way.
- Who
- Alan Cleland, a 24-year-old competitor on the WSL’s 2026 Men’s Championship Tour, was suspended. The allegations involve a teenager from New South Wales.
- What
- The WSL issued Cleland a provisional suspension from all its events after learning of allegations involving an alleged sexual assault.
- When
- The alleged incident took place in August. The WSL said it was recently made aware of the allegations.
- Where
- Tahiti, French Polynesia.
- Why
- The WSL said it suspended Cleland after learning of allegations of a deeply serious nature involving him.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The WSL’s seventh Championship Tour stop took place at Teahupo’o in Tahiti.
The alleged incident involving a private gathering took place in Tahiti.
The WSL said it became aware of the allegations and issued Cleland a provisional suspension.
- Competitor
- Alan Cleland, 24
- Tour
- 2026 Men’s Championship Tour
- Alleged incident
- Tahiti, August 2026
- Competition stop
- Teahupo’o, August 8–18, 2026
What people are saying
The World Surf League (WSL) confirms that a competitor on the 2026 Men’s Championship Tour has been suspended after the WSL was recently made aware of allegations of a deeply serious nature involving the competitor
After being informed of the allegations, the WSL Discipline Committee took prompt action and issued a provisional suspension to the competitor from all WSL events
Sources
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