Alan Cleland Jr. – the Paris 2024 Olympic athlete representing Mexico – has been hit with another suspension, this time from surfing’s Olympic governing body, the International Surfing Association (ISA), amid serious sexual assault allegations.
In an October 14 statement, the ISA announced its decision to “provisionally suspend the athlete concerned” from all ISA-sanctioned events pending further investigation.
The organization emphasized that the suspension “does not constitute a determination of wrongdoing.” See the ISA’s statement on social media below.
“The ISA Executive Committee has decided to provisionally suspend the athlete concerned from participating in ISA-sanctioned events, pending further investigation and review, in accordance with applicable rules and ISA safeguard procedures,” the ISA announced. The federation emphasized that “safeguarding and athlete welfare remain fundamental priorities of the ISA” as it collaborates with national federations to enforce conduct standards.
Although the ISA did not identify the athlete, veteran surf journalist Nick Carroll, writing for Surfing World, first identified Cleland as the surfer previously suspended by the World Surf League (WSL).
The allegations stem from a private gathering in Tahiti following August’s WSL Championship Tour event at Teahupo’o. According to reports, the alleged incident involved a 16-year-old Australian surfer and multiple men.
Related: Championship Tour Surfer Suspended After “Deeply Serious” Allegations
The WSL previously suspended the unnamed Championship Tour competitor following allegations it characterized as being of a “deeply serious nature.”
The controversy intensified when Cleland’s former girlfriend, German professional surfer Noah Klapp, publicly accused him of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse during their relationship, which began when she was 17.
In an Instagram statement previously covered by SURFER, Klapp stated that Cleland “pinned me down on the bed, grabbing my wrists with all his strength” and “sexually assaulted me many times.” She urged the global surfing community to “stop idolizing abusers.”
Related: Al Cleland Jr.’s Former Girlfriend Goes Public With Abuse Allegations After WSL Suspension
The ISA’s involvement is particularly significant given Cleland’s Olympic history.
In 2024, he became the first surfer to represent Mexico at the Olympic Games, competing at Teahupo’o during Paris 2024. He previously won gold at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games.
Now, his Olympic future faces uncertainty. Cleland has been suspended from two of the primary paths to qualification.
The ISA oversees Olympic surfing and plays a central role in qualification. For Los Angeles 2028, where surfing will take place at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, athletes can qualify through the WSL Championship Tour, ISA World Surfing Games, and designated continental competitions.
Under the LA28 qualification system, 48 surfers will compete, with 24 men and 24 women.
Cleland’s latest suspension will most certainly complicate his qualification prospects, although it does not amount to an Olympic ban.
The ISA reiterated its commitment to protecting athletes from abuse and said it would not comment further during the review.
As of publication, no criminal charges against Cleland have been publicly confirmed, and he has not publicly responded to the allegations.
This is a developing story; more to come.
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