PHOENIX, Arizona, May 28. WITHIN hours after USA Swimming released its first public list of Individuals Suspended From USA Swimming for Life, Everett Uchiyama, the former USA Swimming National Team Director, resigned from his cross-town position as Aquatic Director for the Country Club of Colorado. The Country Club of Colorado has claimed that USA Swimming provided Uchiyama with a positive reference prior to him being hired as the aquatic director.
Uchiyama's name was placed on the "Banned List" Jan. 31, 2006, days after he resigned his position within USA Swimming. Uchiyama began working with the organization in 1999 as the national team coordinator before assuming the interim national team director position in Dec. 2002. He later became the full-time national team director in April 2004 until being banned in 2006.
The reason for his resignation was only revealed when the list went public this week (four years after the fact) on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. According to an Associated Press report:
Uchiyama was banned for violating a section in the code of conduct that forbids "any sexual conduct, advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by a coach." The provision also prohibits "any nonconsensual physical sexual conduct, or pattern of unwelcome advances or other sexual harassment in connection with or incidental to a USA Swimming-related activity."
Knowing the reasoning behind Uchiyama's 2006 resignation raised alarms since he continued working within the aquatic community another four years after his lifetime ban from USA Swimming. While the Country Club of Colorado is not affiliated with USA Swimming and the ban does not apply in this particular case, the Country Club of Colorado has claimed that USA Swimming provided Uchiyama with a positive reference during his hiring process.
"… hiring protocol was followed when (Uchiyama) was initially hired, including a thorough background check prior to his first day of employment," Country Club of Colorado spokesperson Jordan Blakesley told Swimming World. "This included a positive reference with USA Swimming. The Club was previously unaware of the allegations in today's news report. The Country Club of Colorado takes the welfare of its guests very seriously and took immediate action in regards to this matter."
Swimming World immediately checked the veracity of the claim with USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus, who was Uchiyama's direct superior during his tenure as USA Swimming's National Team Director.
In answer to the following question:
Why did someone within your administration at USA Swimming give a positive reference for Everett Uchiyama's employment as the Aquatic Director at the Country Club of Colorado knowing that he was on the Individuals Suspended From USA Swimming for Life list?"
Wielgus replied: "We are not aware of anyone who provided a positive reference on behalf of USA Swimming, but we are investigating this matter further."
When Swimming World requested for a second time that the Country Club of Colorado provide proof that USA Swimming provided a positive reference for the employment of Uchiyama, Blakesley replied: "Due to the sensitive nature of personnel files, we are legally unable to provide this information under these circumstances. Thank you for understanding."
USA Swimming has made positive steps in creating new policies and procedures in dealing with the Sexual Abuse crisis that immerses their organization.
Continued efforts will be made by Swimming World to acquire copies of the Country Club of Colorado's evidence supporting their claim that a positive reference was issued by USA Swimming in this matter to either help dismiss or support underlying allegations that USA Swimming engages in practices that cover-up, avoid or side step sexual abuse issues within its organization.