February 29th 2024.
According to a recent report by USA Today, Ivan Lee, a former U.S. Olympic fencer and the former chairman of USA Fencing, was taken into custody on February 26th in New York. The online court records show that he faces charges of forcible touching, sexual abuse, and harassment. At his arraignment in Kings Criminal Court in Brooklyn, the 42-year-old Lee pleaded not guilty and was released with non-monetary conditions.
The incident leading to Lee's arrest occurred on November 8th at a college gymnasium in Brooklyn, where Lee was the head coach of the men's and women's fencing teams. The criminal complaint states that Lee, who is also a former police officer, pulled a young woman to the ground and hit her on the buttocks without her consent. The complainant expressed fear of further physical harm and imminent danger.
Jack Wiener, who is representing the complainant pro bono, alleges that Lee engaged in additional inappropriate behavior with his client at various times and locations. Wiener highlighted the betrayal of trust, saying, "My client had every reason to trust Mr. Lee. He is a former police officer, was chairman of USA Fencing, and a coach. If she could trust anyone, it should have been him." Lee and his lawyer have yet to comment on the allegations.
In December, USA Fencing suspended Lee as chairman for violating the SafeSport Code, an independent organization responsible for safeguarding athletes in the Olympic movement. Upon learning of his suspension, Lee, who competed in the 2004 Olympics, resigned from his position. He has had a successful career, becoming the first African American to win a world fencing championship in 2001. He is also a five-time national champion and was inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2019, Lee transitioned to coaching and led the fencing program at Long Island University-Brooklyn to great success, producing two All-Americans and a national champion in just two years.
Lee, who worked for the New York City Police Department from 2008 to 2022, is scheduled to appear in court again on April 4th. The news of his arrest has sent shockwaves through the fencing community, potentially damaging the reputation of a once-celebrated athlete and coach.
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