In February, former U.S. ladies’s chess champion Jennifer Shahade alleged on social media that she were sexually assaulted through grand grasp Alejandro Ramirez and that the U.S. Chess Federation knew about it. She has since made additional allegations announcing that extra ladies have opened as much as her about their reports with Ramirez and that the government don’t seem to be taking suitable motion.
In her unique observation, that used to be posted on Twitter, Shahade claimed that she had two times been sexually assaulted through Ramirez, who has been some of the recognizable faces in American chess during the last 20 years.
She has claimed that the allegations had been reported to the United States Chess Federation and the St. Louis Chess Membership, which is closely influential within the sport, however that they’ve didn’t act upon her claims.
Ramirez, 34, used to be born in Costa Rica however modified allegiances to constitute the USA in 2011. On the age of 15 he turned into the primary grand grasp from a Central American nation and used to be the second-youngest on this planet on the time.
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Extra just lately Ramirez has been given roles during which he has coached girls and women during the last decade or extra.
Shahade wrote: “These days there are more than one investigations underway on Alejandro Ramirez and sexual misconduct, together with a sequence of alleged incidents involving a minor.
“I used to be assaulted two times through him, 9 and 10 years in the past. I might moved on till the previous couple years, when more than one ladies, impartial of one another and and not using a wisdom of my very own enjoy – approached me with their very own tales of alleged abuse. Those accounts had been from a lot more youthful alleged sufferers.”
She persevered: “I noticed alarming proof, together with texts that admitted abuse of a minor whilst he used to be training her, in addition to a textual content to an alleged sufferer about being an underage ‘temptress’.
“The street to investigation and possible penalties has been an overly aggravating procedure.”
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Shahade could also be an achieved poker participant.
Her observation persevered: “You could have spotted I have taken a significant step again from [chess] statement as this performs out.
“I have crammed the time with poker, writing and selling ladies in chess. And but numerous that paintings to make chess extra inclusive is futile if we can not make crystal transparent that the security of girls, ladies, youngsters is of the best possible precedence. And that’s the reason why I am talking out now.
“Thank you on your toughen and persistence for extra main points.”
Relating to her unique publish on Twitter, she later wrote: “Since I posted this, 4 extra ladies have contacted me about alleged misconduct from Ramirez, starting from harassment to sexual attack to grooming scholars. Seven if together with moment hand experiences.”
Shahade then added: “That is with a bit of luck nearing the tip of a protracted fight. Ever since I heard from more youthful ladies, I’ve no longer rested in elevating alarms and dealing in this. I’m grateful for everybody who is given toughen during the last two years and lately.”
The chess champion concluded with a 3rd tweet: “Seven further ladies have reached out to me with tales of alleged abuse/attack through Alejandro Ramirez since my unique publish.”
Chess grasp Misha Vilanchuk, founding father of the Aware Masters Chess Academy, answered to Shahade, backing up her claims and apologising for no longer talking up on the time.
He tweeted: “I hate to mention this, however I used to be acutely aware of this again in 2010-2012,” occurring to accuse Ramirez of “grabbing underaged ladies.”
Ramirez has issued a observation thru his legal professional, Albert Watkins, during which he states that he has resigned his roles on the St. Louis Chess Membership and as trainer of the St. Louis College chess workforce.
He has stated that the allegations are a “damaging distraction.”
Watkins stated: “Superimposing lately’s mores on faulty recitals of acts of yesteryear is a recipe for crisis for each the accused and the accuser.”
Newsweek has contacted each the United States Chess Federation and St. Louis Chess Membership for remark at the allegations and their wisdom of them.
The USA Chess Federation despatched a observation, which used to be launched on Thursday following allegations within the Wall Side road Magazine (WSJ).
They wrote: The USA Chess Federation (US Chess) is dedicated to protective the security of its individuals and their proper to be handled with recognize. As a part of that dedication, US Chess followed the Protected Play Tips in 2019.
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“Whilst the allegations within the article are deeply relating to and might be evaluated as a part of US Chess’ ongoing investigation into this subject, we really feel you will need to explain a number of issues.
“First, Mr. Ramirez isn’t hired through US Chess. 2d, US Chess has no document of any reported allegations relating to Mr. Ramirez’s behavior previous to 2020.
“In 2020, when US Chess realized of allegations relating to Mr. Ramirez’s behavior in years prior, it stopped enticing Mr. Ramirez in any capability the place he would come into touch with minors.
“Moreover, rather then filing freelance articles and showing on a podcast, Mr. Ramirez has had no significant engagement with US Chess because the allegations had been made to US Chess in 2020.
“3rd, Mr. Ramirez used to be decided on because the trainer of the 2022 Ladies’s Olympiad Workforce; on the other hand, as is same old observe for our Olympiad groups, that call used to be made through the workforce independently of US Chess.”
US Chess persevered to mention that Ramirez has been suspended as they examine the unique allegations in addition to the brand new ones that experience come to mild since Shahade’s first tweet.
They added: “US Chess’s investigation of the 2 formal proceedings gained in September 2022 relating to Mr. Ramirez’s behavior is ongoing. US Chess strongly respects the proper of alleged sufferers to keep watch over when and to whom they inform their tale.
“Then again, as a result of US Chess didn’t obtain proceedings from, or enough knowledge relating to, the allegations of the opposite ladies referenced within the WSJ article, we now have no longer had the chance to research and believe the ones further allegations. That procedure is underway.
“Within the period in-between, Mr. Ramirez’s US Chess club has been suspended.”
They concluded: “We inspire any sufferer or different individuals with knowledge related to this investigation to touch US Chess through emailing abuse@uschess.org or through filing a grievance by means of the Protected Play Misconduct Document Shape. Knowledge gained as a part of this procedure might be stored confidential to the utmost extent imaginable.”
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