Introduction to a Courageous Whistleblower
Djelika "Mami" Tunkara has lost her anonymity, a significant development that has left her fearful. She expressed her concerns to DW, stating, "I’m afraid. Before my name went public, I had already received death threats. Now I will need more protection, but I never had some. So although I’m afraid, I would like to speak, because I want to protect others." Her struggle for justice began in 2021 when she refused to make sexual progress with her former head coach at the Malian Basketball Federation (FMBB) and then reported the sexual progress.
The Struggle for Justice
The coach was later charged with pedophilia in July 2021, arrested, and imprisoned for rape and harassment of other victims. Shortly after, Tunkara lost her place in the squad for the U18/U19 World Championship in Hungary in August 2021. She and her lawyers claim that this was a direct retaliation for her speaking out against the abuse. Tunkara stated, "The Federation [FMBB] tried to hold me when I spoke back then." She also revealed that the threats had become so severe that she felt forced to leave the country for her own security.
CAS Ruling
Tunkara’s decision to speak out came after a further setback in her pursuit of FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, to recognize the damage she suffered as a whistleblower. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided that it was not responsible for hearing her case. After years of navigating FIBA’s legal mechanisms, Tunkara had contacted CAS in an attempt to seek justice. In August 2021, she submitted a case to the FIBA ethics committee, claiming that the FMBB had unjustly dropped her from the national team.
A Labyrinth of Internal Legal Processes
Tunkara’s lawyers, including William Bock III, who signed on in 2022, see the CAS decision as a significant blow. Bock stated, "It is the most disappointing result that I have ever had as a lawyer because of the injustice that ‘Mami’ has already experienced. We spent four years trying to address the damage that FIBA has done, and we are caught in their labyrinth of internal legal processes, from which we may never come out." The CAS decision gave the case back to FIBA’s ethics panel, leaving Tunkara’s future uncertain.
Opportunities Denied
Tunkara’s career has been put on hold for over two years due to the death threats she received in Mali, which limited her to her house and led to a significant deterioration in her mental health. Bock noted, "Mami is a young woman, but every year she loses opportunities that have been taken away from her by not being able to participate in her career at a very important point." Ahmmar Maiga, the founder and managing director of the non-profit organization Young Players Protection Association in Africa-Mali (YPPA-Mali), reported the abuse and remains skeptical of FIBA’s genuine desire to help Tunkara.
Resolutely Fighting for Justice
With the case now back in the FIBA ethics body, there is no indication of when a decision on Tunkara’s appeal could be issued. Despite being exhausted by the struggle and constant fear for her life, Tunkara remains determined to continue fighting, not just for her own improvement but for the young girls who hope to follow in her footsteps in Mali. She stated, "I always hope for justice. For me, this justice would be a change that protects the youth and our small sisters in the future." Tunkara’s courage and resilience in the face of adversity serve as a beacon of hope for those seeking justice and protection in the world of sports.
