Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Tahiti police gather evidence after surfer's provisional suspension
Police in French Polynesia are gathering evidence about an alleged incident in Tahiti in August.
The allegations reportedly involve a teenage Australian female surfer and at least three men at a private gathering after the Outerknown Tahiti Pro.
The World Surf League and International Surfing Association provisionally suspended a male competitor from events while the allegations are investigated.
Neither organisation has named the surfer, and the suspension is not a finding of wrongdoing.
Authorities disagree over who has jurisdiction: Tahiti officials believe the complaint was made to Australian police, while NSW Police says French Polynesian police are responsible for the investigation.
Local police are gathering evidence for Australian law enforcement, but have not received a formal request for information; both surfing bodies say they will respect due process.
Police in French Polynesia are gathering evidence after allegations led the International Surfing Association and World Surf League to provisionally suspend a male professional surfer.
The alleged incident reportedly involved a teenage Australian female surfer and at least three men.
The World Surf League said the incident allegedly took place at a private gathering in Tahiti in August.
Neither surfing body has identified the suspended surfer, and the ABC said it had not independently verified his identity.
Police in Tahiti reportedly believe they do not have jurisdiction because the complaint was made to police in Australia, while NSW Police said French Polynesian police have jurisdiction and carriage of the investigation.
- Who
- A male professional surfer was suspended after allegations involving a teenage Australian female surfer and at least three men.
- What
- Police in French Polynesia are gathering evidence following the allegations.
- When
- The alleged incident reportedly occurred in August; the suspension was announced this week.
- Where
- Tahiti, French Polynesia.
- Why
- The surfing bodies said they acted after learning of serious allegations; the ISA described its suspension as precautionary and not a determination of wrongdoing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The alleged incident reportedly took place at a private gathering in Tahiti.
The World Surf League said it had provisionally suspended a surfer on the 2026 Men's Championship Tour.
The International Surfing Association announced a provisional suspension from ISA-sanctioned events.
- Location
- Tahiti, French Polynesia
- Reported incident date
- August
- Alleged people involved
- A teenage Australian female surfer and at least three men
- Suspended tour
- 2026 Men's Championship Tour
- Evidence gathering
- French Polynesian police
3 sources
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What people are saying
This precautionary decision has been taken in the interest of athlete safety and welfare, and does not constitute a determination of wrongdoing.