Victims of sexual harassment in sports, whether they are man or woman, must report such cases said National Athletes Welfare Foundation's (Yakeb) executive chairperson Mumtaz Begum Abdul Jaafar.

"Right now, sexual harassment in sports is not seen as a specific crime and many regard such cases as not serious.

"Many who face such situations are also not reporting such crimes," said Mumtaz when opening a Seminar on Sexual Harassment in Sports, organised by the National Sports Institute (ISN) in Bukit Jalil today.

According to Mumtaz, such cases were very disturbing, especially if they involved someone who had been given the responsibility to develop sports in the country.

"Sexual harassment does not only involve a man and woman but also rampant among the same gender.

"It can lead to emotional disorders that can result in poor performances," she said.

Among the 180 participants in the two-day seminar were athletes, coaches, students, national sports associations, staff of ISN, National Sports Council and Higher Learning Institutions.

- Bernama