SafeSport

Reporting

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (The Center) accepts all reports of sexual abuse and child abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Report here if you have reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct or harassment, child abuse (including child sexual abuse), or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power.

The Center also accepts reports of emotional and physical misconduct (including but not limited to bullying, hazing, stalking, and harassment) within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Reports of emotional and physical misconduct can also be reported directly to USA Karate.

If you know of or suspect a violation of any of the Safe Sport Policies or Procedures you are required to report the incident.

There is no cost in submitting a report.

Sexual Conduct Involving a Minor:

U.S. Center for SafeSport - uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern | 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233)

USA Karate Ethics Website - USAKarateEthics.com | (844) 598-1865

All sexual misconduct involving a minor should also be reported to local law enforcement.

All Other Violations:
USA Karate Ethics Website - USAKarateEthics.com | (844) 598-1865
Report via an incident report form emailed to ethics@usankf.org

Contacting the CEO or Ethics Committee Chairperson directly 
Board Chair Contact: Elisa Au - eau@usankf.org | (719) 309-6030
Ethics Committee Chairperson Contact: Adam Older | aolder@usankf.orgShould you have any questions, please feel free to contact the National Office for additional assistance. We look forward to partnering with each of you as we work together to ensure a safe sport!

Click here to download the incident report form

The USA Karate Safe Sport Program will consist of online SafeSport™ Training, background screening and a collection of policies to protect our members. SafeSport™ Training and background screening must be completed for each USA Karate Official, Coach, Adult National Team Member, Committee Member, Staff and Board Member.

Compliance is required to participate as a Referee, Judge, Credentialed Coach, Event Staff, Club Press Pass holders and Medical Staff at Signature Events. Athletes 18 years and over are required to complete SafeSport™ Training. Volunteers and Vendors are required to have reviewed the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies At-A-Glance and the Reporting At-A-Glance. Those who have not completed the program requirements or who are on the banned list will not be allowed to participate in any capacity at any USA Karate Signature Event.

You can look up a member 18 years of age and over to verify their compliance with USA Karate Safe Sport requirements. All members 18 years and over are required to complete SafeSport™ Training. All official, coach, regional referee members are also required to have a valid Background Screen. Member club owners, staff, board members, instructors and leaders are required to complete SafeSport™

Training and have a valid Background Screen to be USA Karate Safe Sport compliant.

USA Karate Safe Sport compliant means they have completed the annual SafeSport™ training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport and if required have completed a background check with NCSI and have a clear check or an approved exception. See background check policy in the Participant Safety Handbook.

Search for USA Karate Safe Sport Compliance here.

SAFESPORT CODE

This Code of Conduct establishes consistent standards of response and resolution to abuse and misconduct claims behavior across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), National Governing Bodies (NGBs), and Local Affiliated Organizations (LAOs) must comply, in all respects, with these policies and procedures as defined by the Code. All participants of these organizations are responsible for adhering to and understanding the Code. The SafeSport Code can be found here.

MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES (MAAPP)

The MAAPP is a collection of proactive prevention and training policies for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement. It has three primary components: an Education and Training Policy, Required Prevention Policies, and Recommended Prevention Policies. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, Paralympic Sport Organizations, Local Affiliated Organizations, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law.

USA-NKF Minor Athletes and Officials Abuse Prevention Policies follow the requirements from the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy to cover both our minor athletes and minor regional officials. You can review these policies at the following link: USA-NKF Minor Athletes and Officials Abuse Prevention Policies. Additionally, please see the How to report sexual misconduct, physical misconduct, emotional misconduct and violation of the MAAPP, MAAPP at a Glance and Team Travel Policy resource documents. 

PARTICIPANT SAFETY HANDBOOK

The collection of all USA Karate Safe Sport Policies and procedures for you to review are found in the Participant Safety Handbook. The latest version can be found here.

Background Check

To be completed every 2 years. National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) is our vendor and will recheck each applicant annually. The cost of the background screening is approximately $30 depending on your state.

To complete the background check, you will simply need to do the following:

Go to the membership platform usankf.sport80.com and log in to your account.

Select the Background Screening.

The system will display your status.

If lapsed, you be able to renew your training or if it is the first screen you will add a background screen.

Online Training Sessions

SafeSport training must be complete every year for participants 18 years of age and older.

To complete the free SafeSport Training, you will simply need to do the following:

• Go to the membership platform usankf.sport80.com and log in to your account. 
• Select the US Center for SafeSport Training. 
• The system will display your status. 
• If lapsed or missing you will be able to access training. 

Additional training is available from the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Core courses required for compliance should be completed through your account on the Sport:80 platform. Additional courses are currently available at safesporttrained.org

Courses include: Abuse Prevention for Adult Athletes, Health Professionals: Your Role in Preventing Abuse in Sport, Creating Safe and Inclusive Environments for Athletes with Disabilities, Parents Guide to Misconduct in Sport, SafeSport for Youth (ages 13-17), SafeSport for Kids, SafeSport for Volunteers, Understanding Mandatory Reporting.

USA National Karate-do Federation Banned Members:

Individual	Year of Action	Action
Michael Ritter	1997	Permanently Ineligible by USA-NKF
Michael Shimabukuro	2010	Permanently Ineligible by USA-NKF
Frank Pugarita	2017	Permanently Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
Michael Ford	2017	10-Year Suspension with 3 years abated - 5-year probation by the US Center for SafeSport
Jame Buchen	2018	Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
Ernet Bolen	2018	Permanently Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
Walter Arevalo	2018	Permanently Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
Patrick Martin	2019	Permanently Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
David Crosby	2020	Ineligible by the US Center for SafeSport
Darwin Dejesus Rojas-Frias	2023	Temporary indefinite suspension pending results of SafeSport investigation.
Akira Fukuda	2024	1-Year Suspension by the US Center for SafeSport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database is a resource designed to keep the public informed when individuals connected with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movements are either subject to certain temporary restrictions pending investigation by the Center or are subject to certain sanctions after an investigation found them in violation of the SafeSport Code.See the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Centralized Disciplinary Database list. 

Individuals listed as USA Karate Suspended or Ineligible Members or found in the US Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database are precluded from participation in USA Karate, including: serving on the Board of Directors, Committees or as a member of a Task Force; participating in any manner at our signature or sanctioned events; being credentialed as a guest, VIP, athlete, coach, official, companion or vendor at signature or sanctioned events; traveling with the Senior or Junior National Team in any capacity.

• Participant Safety Handbook

• USA-NKF Minor Athlete and Official Abuse Prevention Policy
• Background Screen Policy
• Participants
• 2017 USOC SafeSport Audit
• 2021 Event Audit Results
• Resource Partners from the U.S. Center for SafeSport

• U.S Center for SafeSport YouTube Channel

• U.S. Center for SafeSport
• How to report sexual misconduct, physical misconduct, emotional misconduct and violation of the MAAPP

• U.S. Center for Safesport NGB ServicesUS Government Anti-Bullying Program

• National Boys Town Hotline - 24/7 Counseling Services: For 24/7 crisis support, contact the SafeSport helpline for crisis interventions, referrals and emotional support. This confidential and secure helpline is operated by RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. 

• NCA represents the national network of Child Advocacy Centers (CAC).

• CACs host a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, child protective services, victim advocates and mental health practitioners who investigate instances of child abuse and neglect.
• This national hotline serves people affected by sexual violence. To search for local centers, visit www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline or call the hotline phone number, 800.656.HOPE.
• The National Suicide Prevention LifeLine provides a national network of 160 local crisis centers and provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week.