Jakarta, March 12 -- Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said the alleged sexual harassment of athletes in sport climbing and kickboxing reflects serious misconduct that should not occur in sports.

"These athletes have made sacrifices, not only through school, training, and leaving their parents, but they are being treated cruelly, and this is a heinous act," he told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Since receiving the report from the Indonesian Sport Climbing Federation (FPTI), his office has adhered to the principle of the presumption of innocence, even though the federation has already imposed internal sanctions on the alleged perpetrators.

Thohir said the government is pushing for legal proceedings in cases of alleged sexual h...