Munich, June 11, 2024. More than ever, our world is facing major economic, social and ecological challenges. And we are convinced that sport and the outdoors are drivers of positive social change. For this reason, the ISPO Cup jury honored Nirmal Purja last year for his commitment to the Nimsdai Foundation, founded in 2021, which is committed to the Nepalese community and the sustainable protection of the sacred mountains of his homeland.
Recently, we have received reports and allegations of coercion and sexual harassment by Nirmal Purja against two female clients of his expedition agency. We are deeply disturbed by these allegations. The promotion of integrity, respect and fairness beyond sport is a central concern for us. We want to make it unequivocally clear that sexual harassment and any form of physical or mental abuse have no place in our ranks and will not be tolerated.
We have come to know Nirmal Purja as a person of integrity. For this reason, we apply the presumption of innocence until the allegations and facts have been fully clarified. At the same time, we make it unmistakably clear that the moment the allegations prove to be true, we will immediately terminate the cooperation and withdraw the ISPO Cup from Nirmal Purja. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity of our awards and to make a clear statement against such misconduct.
We deeply regret that this situation has come to this and extend our support and sympathy to all those affected.
Press contact
Carsten Schürg
pr@ispo.com
