In a bombshell announcement preceding the eagerly-awaited release of the review into the sport’s ‘toxic culture’, Hockey Australia announced that Gaudoin had handed in his resignation.“In light of the release of the findings and recommendations from the independent review that has been undertaken, Paul informed Hockey Australia that he has decided to stand down from the role,” Hockey Australia chief executive Matt Favier said.“The past 12 months have been a difficult and taxing time for everyone involved in the High Performance program and especially the coaching staff.“They have had to navigate the uncertainty of COVID while being an assuring and supportive presence for players, which Paul has done.“He has conducted himself with integrity, devotion and commitment to the cause and done his utmost to improve the athletes, both as hockey players and as people.”Gaudoin is the highest-profile casualty of a fast growing list of senior staff who have exited Hockey Australia in the past three months following complaints about the way the program was being run.These include the high performance director Toni Cumpston, the assistant coach Steph Andrews and a handful of staff and directors.And there may be more to come with the release of the independent review, with Hockey Australia vowing nothing will be covered up and they will act on the recommendationsThe review was ordered after dozens of past and present players came forward with reports about body-shaming, bullying and intimidation that led to players developing serious eating disorders, self-harming and walking away from the sport.Hockey Australia President Mel Woosnam paid tribute to the departing Gaudoin – a former star player who turned his hand to coaching – saying he always acted in the best interests of the team and the players.“He has taken this team from number six in the world after the Rio Olympics to number two at the end of 2019 and this should be commended,” Woosnam said.“Paul’s technical and tactical knowledge of the game is second-to-none and he has always conducted himself professionally and in the best interests of the program and the athletes.”A former Kookaburras captain who helped his country win two Olympic medals in his playing days, Gaudoin was appointed as head coach of the Hockeyroos after the disastrous 2016 Rio Olympic campaign, where the team bombed out of medal contention and the former coach Adam Commens was fired for misconduct.Charged with improving the team’s results on the pitch and the culture off the field, the Hockeyroos won silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy under Gaudoin before more sordid reports about the high performance program began to emerge, triggering the review.“I have spent more than half my life involved with the High Performance Program as a player for the Kookaburras and as a coach for both the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras,” Gaudoin said.“Whilst I am disappointed to not see out the Olympic program to Tokyo, I am proud to have helped get the Hockeyroos to be ranked second in the world.”Hockey Australia said assistant coach Katie Allen will take over as interim head coach role while a replacement for the vacant head coach and assistant coach roles are found.



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