“The Olympics, one of the happiest times of my life, has ended.” Lubjana Piovesana represented Austria at the 2024 Paris Olympics despite only contesting twice in 3 years. She stepped into the Champ-de-Mars Arena for one last time during the repechage round in the judo women’s 63 kg event. Alas, she had to return home without Olympic hardware. However, the former GB judoka came face-to-face with one of her biggest challenges in the 63 kg elimination round of 16.

It wasn’t something many were privy to until she had to step onto the Olympic mat. But Piovesana didn’t let the uncomfortable memories that plagued her hold her back, and she emerged victorious in the bout. As she moved on to the quarterfinals, the judoka hoped to leave the past behind. However, much to her dismay, it followed her throughout. Even though she was happy to have been a part of the Summer Games, her experience was now tainted by circumstances that weren’t of her own doing.

The former British judoka had found herself amidst a ‘toxic’ situation with seemingly no way out back in 2021. However, she soon decided to address it, leading to serious allegations and a 2-year independent investigation. But when that did not hold by the end of it, she decided to step back from the situation and her home to move in with her partner in Austria. On July 8 this year, she addressed this incident again to clear out any misconceptions.

As the two judokas stepped onto the mat, the air was thick with anticipation. However, the bout went by without any indication of discomfort from either end. Due to their shared history and a slew of publications, Piovesana felt the need to defend herself. She shared a few images of her notes, highlighting how the recent fight had led to the British Judo Association sending a mass email. But she addressed how the email simply didn’t adhere to her side of the story. “Today, I would like to share the truth about the investigation,” she stated.

The 27-year-old confronted her former Great Britain (GB) teammate, with whom she had a contentious history during her time with British Judo. While the incident left a bitter taste in her mouth, winning against her was all the redemption she needed. However, the email in question seemed to have added to her woes: “A member of the British Judo staff approached me to see if I wanted to make a statement, as she believed there was bullying in British Judo. I chose to participate because I had been physically attacked by a teammate, resulting in police involvement and an official warning.” She was first invited to join their senior set-up a decade ago.

Before claiming gold at Baku and Dushanbe this year, Lubjana Piovesana won six bronzes on the top-tier IJF World Tour. She was also the youngest Briton to have achieved that feat. After winning 3 national championships in the junior categories, this next step was supposed to help her move one step closer to her dreams. However, these dreams came to a crashing halt when she realized she wasn’t the only one having to go through this ordeal. “Several other incidents had also occurred, and I felt British Judo didn’t handle the situation correctly.” She stated how UK Sport did an initial scoping investigation to understand the gravity of the situation.

Aftermath of the initial investigation

They came to the conclusion that a thorough investigation would lead them to a better conclusion. However, the BJA was given a choice: either hire their own law firm or conduct the investigation themselves. They decided to go with the former option and went ahead with Fulcrum Chambers. While the judoka hoped for a better outcome, her worst nightmares were about to come true instead. “Within 18 hours of giving my identity to the investigators, I was deselected from upcoming training camps.” She was told that her identity wouldn’t be disclosed. But to her dismay, the entire team was aware of what was stated.

This led to several instances where the judoka was encouraged to skip training camps and upcoming competitions. “Meanwhile, the accused were allowed to continue participating,” she stated. By the end of the investigation, their accusations were not upheld. However, Piovesana believes there’s more to it than meets the eye. “I cannot confirm whether our complaints were substantiated because neither I nor the other girls involved were allowed to see the Fulcrum’s report, although the accused were.” With no way to follow through on further legal action, the judoka eventually shifted her base to Austria.

Lubjana Piovesana concluded by reiterating, “This statement is not to condone or spark conflict between me and the other athlete and coach, but to highlight the flawed process of British Judo and how they did not treat us fairly. I just wanted to state my side and I hope no one has to experience what I went through and will have the courage like me to speak out.” However, what sparked this incident to flare up 3 years later?

An unfortunate wrinkle in time

On August 7, members received a detailed email highlighting the allegations, the investigation, and the process that followed. They concluded the email by stating, “As a sport built on respect and integrity, I would like to reiterate that we, at British Judo, have a zero tolerance stance on bullying and pride ourselves on providing a welcoming and inclusive environment.” However, the crux of the problem was that several mentions of the incident had resurfaced, causing discomfort for everyone involved.

The judoka initially had to deal with comments being passed her way. However, during a session, Lubjana Piovesana allegedly claimed to have been punched and kicked back in 2019. After reporting the incident, this email states that several recommendations were made to help smooth things out. But all Piovesana received was a written apology. According to British Judo, the findings they came up with in 2021 seem to stick. “Since the publication of the reports, it has taken a significant toll on the mental health of both the athlete and coach.” The 27-year-old recounts her own situation in the statement.

Piovesana wasn’t certain about what the future had in store for her. However, when she found out she could represent Austria, she was happy to get on board. “While I believe no one should be made to feel bad, regardless of their path, British Judo did not support my mental health or that of other athletes.” When she realized that the stress was now getting harder to deal with, the judoka decided to work with a psychologist. She once had her hair fall out in clumps. But now Lubjana Piovesana seems to be in a better place.