‘ABUSE’ SHOCK 

World-famous coach accused of sexual abuse by student, 18, as she quits team over ‘inappropriate behaviour’ in training

A WORLD-FAMOUS sports coach has been accused of sexual abuse by an 18-year-old student who claims he “licked her ear” and “made sexual moans” during training.

Andre Galvao, 43, a former athlete and head of the Atos Jiu-Jitsu team in Brazil, was accused by a US student of inappropriate behaviour over the past six months.

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Andre Galvao has been accused of sexual abuse by an 18-year-old studentCredit: Instagram/@galvaobjj
Galvao described the claims were false and said he would take legal measures to protect his reputationCredit: Instagram/@galvaobjj
The young fighter described a pattern of behaviour by Galvao that made her uncomfortable, including inappropriate touching and repeated comments about her body.

Hours after the allegations were made public, Galvao issued a statement on social media denying all claims.

He described the accusations as false and said he would take legal measures to protect his reputation, his family and the Atos organisation.

The alleged victim made the claims public through a series of posts on her Instagram account.

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In a statement, she said: “During training sessions he would take me away from the training partner I chose for myself, send my partner away to train with someone else and he would make me train with him.

“He made sexual moaning sounds in my ear while he was on top of me.

“And in another instance, when his head was very close to my head he licked my ear.”

The 18-year-old, who has competed internationally, said she trained at Atos from childhood and viewed Galvao as a mentor and father figure.

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The shock claims came as she announced she has quit the team.

The alleged victim said she reported her concerns to Angelica Galvao, Galvao’s wife and a senior figure within the academy, but claimed no action was taken.

She alleged she was advised to remain silent and not to “bite the hand that feeds her”, which left her feeling ignored.

She said she has since filed a police report with local authorities.

Explaining her choice to go public with the allegations, she said she hoped to make sport a safer place.

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) issued a statement after the claims.

It said: “The IBJJF unequivocally condemns all forms of abusive behaviour and unprofessional conduct.

“We do not condone or support any actions that threaten the well-being of Jiu-Jitsu students or the reputation of our sport.”

No court rulings or confirmed legal outcomes had been announced at the time of publication, and the case remains ongoing.

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Galvao has built a reputation as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) legend.

He is a 5th-degree black belt and has won six ADCC World Championships and six IBJJF World Championships.