A 24-year-old Olympic surfer has been suspended from international competition following serious sexual assault allegations involving an Australian teenage girl, triggering a growing controversy within the professional surfing world.
Alan Cleland Jr., who represented Mexico at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was ranked 24th on the World Surf League’s Men’s Championship Tour, has been provisionally suspended from competition as officials investigate allegations stemming from a private gathering in Tahiti.
The controversy has intensified after his former girlfriend, professional surfer Noah Klapp, publicly accused him of physical and sexual abuse during their relationship.
The World Surf League (WSL) confirmed that it suspended a Championship Tour competitor after learning of allegations it described as “deeply serious.”
Although the organization did not identify the athlete in its initial announcement, multiple surfing publications, including Australia’s Surfing World, identified Cleland as the competitor involved.
According to published reports, the alleged incident took place in August after the Outerknown Tahiti Pro, a major surfing competition held at Teahupo’o in French Polynesia.
The allegations involve a teenage female surfer from Sydney, Australia, and reportedly concern the conduct of at least three men at a private gathering.
The WSL emphasized that the gathering was not organized or affiliated with its competition.
However, the league explained that professional surfers are required to follow its code of conduct even when they are not participating in official events.
After reviewing the initial information, the WSL Discipline Committee issued a provisional suspension preventing the athlete from competing while the allegations are examined.
The league also indicated that it would cooperate with relevant authorities.
The disciplinary action has now expanded beyond the WSL.
On October 14, the International Surfing Association (ISA), which oversees international surfing competitions and Olympic qualification events, announced its own provisional suspension of Cleland.
The decision means he is also barred from participating in ISA events while the matter remains under review.
The association emphasized that the suspension is a precautionary measure intended to protect athlete welfare and does not constitute a determination of guilt.
The professional consequences have been significant.
Cleland has reportedly lost sponsorship agreements with surfing brands Quiksilver and Monster Energy, while his name has been removed from certain competition and promotional listings.
The Mexican surfer made history as his country’s first male competitor to qualify for the Olympic surfing competition. His rise through the professional ranks had made him one of Mexico’s most recognizable surfing talents.
But the allegations have placed his career in uncertainty.
The controversy took another turn on October 12 when German professional surfer Noah Klapp published a lengthy statement on Instagram accusing Cleland of abusing her during their relationship.
Klapp alleged that she experienced repeated physical violence, sexual assault, intimidation and controlling behavior while they were together.
She also described occasions when she says she attempted to leave confrontations but was prevented from doing so.
“Alan Cleland Jr. abused me throughout most of our relationship,” Klapp wrote.
Her account included allegations that she was physically restrained and subjected to verbal humiliation.
Klapp said the experiences continued to affect her long after the relationship ended and that she had struggled to discuss what happened.
Her allegations have not been established in court.
In a subsequent statement, Klapp broadened her criticism to the professional surfing community, arguing that inappropriate behavior toward younger female athletes has too often been ignored or minimized.
She called for greater accountability and stronger protections for women and girls participating in the sport.
“Girls shouldn’t have to learn how to survive a culture that the adults around them should be changing,” she wrote.
Her statements received messages of support from several prominent professional surfers, adding to calls for greater transparency about how abuse allegations are handled within competitive surfing.
Meanwhile, questions remain about the status of any criminal investigation related to the Tahiti gathering.
Australian authorities have reportedly been notified of the allegations, but officials have not publicly confirmed that criminal charges have been filed.
Authorities in French Polynesia have also not confirmed a formal criminal prosecution arising from the incident.
As of October 18, Cleland had not been publicly charged with a crime in connection with the reported Tahiti allegations.
He has not issued a detailed public response addressing Klapp’s accusations or the reported incident involving the Australian teenager.
Both the WSL and ISA have stressed that their disciplinary processes are separate from any potential criminal proceedings.
That distinction is important because sports organizations can temporarily suspend athletes under their conduct policies while investigating allegations, even when no criminal charges have been filed.
The controversy has also renewed debate about athlete safety at international competitions, particularly when younger participants attend private gatherings outside official sporting events.
For professional surfing, the situation presents a significant test of how governing bodies respond to serious misconduct allegations while ensuring fair procedures for everyone involved.
Cleland’s competitive future remains uncertain as the disciplinary reviews continue.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the provisional suspensions should not be interpreted as findings of criminal guilt.
For now, the case has prompted difficult conversations throughout the surfing community about accountability, personal safety and the responsibility of sporting organizations to protect athletes.