Whistleblower Alleges Retaliation After Accusing St. Louis Chess Coach of Sexual Assault

The chess world is reeling from a scandal involving allegations of sexual assault and retaliation against a whistleblower. Last year, chess grandmaster Jennifer Shahade accused St. Louis chess coach Alejandro Ramirez of assaulting her and engaging in sexual misconduct with younger players. Shahade’s brave decision to come forward ultimately led to her being forced out of her position as director of women’s programs for the U.S. Chess Federation.

In a lawsuit filed on July 16, Shahade claimed that she was “constructively discharged” following a “sham mediation” and public statements by chess officials to discredit her as a whistleblower. Ramirez, who has denied the allegations against him, resigned from coaching positions with the St. Louis Chess Club and St. Louis University.

The case was recently discussed on the Legal Roundtable edition of St. Louis on the Air, where legal experts debated the validity of Shahade’s claims and the actions taken by the Chess Federation. The panel also touched on other legal issues in the St. Louis area, including an unusual fine against an assistant city counselor and updates in the case of a St. Louis officer who crashed a police SUV into a gay bar.

To hear the full discussion and analysis by the Legal Roundtable, listeners can tune in to St. Louis on the Air on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or by visiting the St. Louis Public Radio website. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.