(MENAFN- AFP) Australian National Rugby League club Gold Coast Titans have defended their decision to use a former porn star as a trainer for their under-20s players.
American Kortney Olson, the 31-year-old wife of Titans chief executive David May, joined the club a fortnight ago in a strength-and-conditioning volunteer's role.
Olson is a qualified personal trainer and international bodybuilding competitor.
May sent an email late Friday to all Titans staff explaining his wife's past and why he believes she is fit to be at the club, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
But since the news became public, several staff have reportedly voiced concern about whether she should be involved with the side's youth and there have been calls for her and May to be sacked.
May said he was standing by his wife and was prepared to answer accusations of nepotism with the National Rugby League.
"It would be nepotism if she was employed and getting paid, but she's a volunteer. If anybody is unhappy with it, the NRL, our fans, players or sponsors, I will deal with it," May told the newspaper.
"She has battled some of the most vicious and difficult personal demons, including rape, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and during a period which was very difficult for a young woman, Kortney did some things which perhaps in hindsight she wouldn't have done now.
"Everyone does things they aren't proud of but she has put it behind her. I am proud of Kortney."
The NRL said it was not a matter where it should intervene.
"Our understanding is that she is not an employee of the club and has no official capacity beyond volunteering in an area where she has some expertise," a spokesman said.
"There are a number of personal issues involved in this and we do not see this as a matter in which the NRL should intervene."
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.