The World Surf League has suspended a surfer after allegations emerged of a sexual assault against an Australian teenager.
24-year-old Alan Cleland Jr is one of four men at the centre of a police investigation of an alleged incident that occurred during August’s Outerknown Tahiti Pro in French Polynesia, according to reports.
He competed for Mexico at the 2024 Olympics and won a gold medal at the 2023 International Surfing Association’s World Games.
The WSL has released a statement that Cleland had been hit with a provisional suspension from all WSL events, saying the alleged incident occurred at a “private gathering” outside the governing body’s jurisdiction.
“The World Surf League (WSL) confirms that a competitor on the 2026 Men’s Championship Tour has been suspended after the WSL was recently made aware of allegations of a deeply serious nature involving the competitor,” the statement reads.
“The allegations involve conduct in relation to a private gathering in Tahiti in August. The gathering was not affiliated with the WSL.
“All WSL competitors are bound by the conduct standards outlined in the WSL Rule Book, at all times. After being informed of the allegations, the WSL Discipline Committee took prompt action and issued a provisional suspension to the competitor from all WSL events.
“The WSL is committed to upholding the values and integrity of the sport on behalf of all surfers, and the broader surfing community.
“The WSL is continuing to follow its process and has offered assistance to relevant authorities.”
While Cleland was not publicly named by the league, he has been removed from the competition rankings, as well as from the website of sponsor Quicksilver.
The alleged victim is from NSW, but the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that French Polynesian police are conducting the investigation.
Cleland, whose father, Alan Cleland Sr, was also a professional surfer, moved to California from the Mexican town of Boca de Pascuales at a young age when his aptitude for surfing became clear.
He has represented Mexico in the sport since 2014.
Cleland was not scheduled to compete again until December’s Pipe Masters, the world’s most prestigious surfing competition, in Oahu, Hawaii.
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