"I Sold Myself Into Sexual Slavery": Rock Climbing Master of Sports Describes Abuse by Coach

Pavel Vekla reveals details of the pressure exerted by Artur Pechiy.

Ukrainian Master of Sports in rock climbing Pavel Vekla said on his Facebook and YouTube channel that he suffered moral, physical and sexual abuse from the coach of the Ukrainian national rock climbing team, vice president of the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation of Ukraine and chairman of the Climbing Committee Artur Pechiy from 2005 to 2013 (the victim was then 15-23 years old).

According to Pavel, he was a weak child and was afraid to confess to others out of shame. Then a choice was added: leave climbing or stay silent. Sport was his whole life and his "only motivation for the future," so Pavel chose to stay silent.

During his sexual education, the athlete realized he was heterosexual, but Artur Pechiy said that "women bring only harm, look at him, he got married and left the sport; because of women he has a bunch of problems; women are to blame for everything." Then the coach introduced general rules: no girls, social networks, or discos.

Vekla says he corresponded with girls, but meetings did not work out: "it feels like he knew where I was and with whom." Hormones led to psychological breakdowns and insomnia, and then pressure from Pechiy. Conflicts became more frequent, and training pressure increased: athletes shouted from the strain and left training in tears, "I only wanted to eat and sleep, like a zombie".

Pavel had to live in the same room with his dying grandmother and look after her, so the coach offered to move him to a separate room at his place, and his mother gave her approval. Besides pressure, Artur also showed care: he solved problems, helped with studies, spent his own money and took him to the theater.

Pavel Vekla
Master of Sports of Ukraine in rock climbing

I sold myself into sexual slavery. Because I could not change anything. I had no influence, no friends, no competent psychologists or lawyers. I did not shine in sports results. But medals at the Ukrainian level were enough to push me into the national team.

In 2012 Pavel left the section and moved to Kyiv. While writing a candidate dissertation on adaptation in climbing, he repeatedly asked the federation for help with research, but received refusals, which he links to Pechiy.

His first income came from coaching, but it was still not enough. At this time the coach "wrote beautiful letters," trying to break him psychologically in hope of the athlete's return.

In 2013 Pavel took 2nd place at the Ukrainian lead climbing championship, but international competitions were out of the question due to lack of money. At the end of 2013 he founded his own climbing school: "the only goal that made me live".

At the same time, Vekla first had friendships and relationships with girls and hope for a family. He tried to shift from the negative past to a positive future and worked in 3 jobs at once for financial independence.

"I was obsessed with this sport. It's like a drug. It's my whole life", recalls the Master of Sports.

The coach continued to interfere in Pavel's life, creating "conflicts over rigging national competitions" and communicating with his employers. In 2015 Vekla left the country; Pechiy continued to interfere in his career matters, but could no longer influence them everywhere.

Having resolved his career and safety issues, Pavel decided to return to an issue important to all children and their parents and tell the truth. In 2017 he took a course on working with children and came across the topic of sexual abuse. Among the principles of action of a pedophile he named:

• identifying the vulnerable;
• encouraging and winning trust;
• supporting in conflict situations with parents;
• material incentives.

Pechiy himself called the former student's accusations part of a planned campaign ahead of the elections for head of the climbing committee and said he intends to defend his name in court. Pechiy announced this on his Facebook page and also recorded a video address. However, neither in the written statement nor in the video address does Pechiy comment on Vekla's accusations substantively, namely the accusations of corrupting a minor. However, on Pechiy's page one can find posts of support from colleagues and students who do not believe the accusations.

Artur Pechiy
Vice President of the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation of Ukraine

People who are eager to lead the Mountaineering and Climbing Federation have launched a campaign of lies against me on the internet. They managed to interest one of my former students in this campaign. He turned out to be a weak person, that happens. It would have been hard for me to fight without the support of the Federation, athletes and fellow coaches. Thank you to everyone who gave moral support in these days. And those who use the blackmail tactics of American porn actresses will answer in court.

Yesterday, November 25, global protests against violence against women took place around the world.