A decision in the case of national diving coach Lutz Buschkow, who was dismissed without notice, is not expected before April. The Halle (Saale) Labor Court has postponed the case again. The presiding judge Gabriele Firzlaff did not yet rule on Wednesday on whether the dismissal issued by the German Swimming Association (DSV) in October 2022 in the wake of an abuse case was legal or not. The reason for the postponement is further announcements by the parties to the dispute regarding negotiations for possible out-of-court settlements, also due to new labor law findings. If there is no out-of-court settlement, the labor court determined that the parties must present a result of their talks by April 3. An announcement date will then be made. This may result in a verdict, but further hearing days may also be scheduled.
In the ARD documentary entitled "Abused - Sexualized Violence in German Swimming", former world-class water diver Jan Hempel made the allegations of sexual abuse against his long-time coach Werner Langer, who died in 2001, public for the first time in August 2022. According to the film, Langer had molested the 1996 Olympic silver medalist from 1982 to 1996. In the film, Hempel, now 51, accused the DSV and Buschkow of knowing about the allegations as early as 1997, but not having done anything decisive.
