World Surf League Suspends Alan Cleland Jr. Amid Serious Allegations

The World Surf League (WSL) has provisionally suspended professional surfer Alan Cleland Jr. following allegations of a "deeply serious nature" that reportedly involve an Australian teenager and three men. The 24-year-old Mexican Olympian, currently ranked 24th on the Men's Championship Tour, has been removed from all WSL competitions as the governing body conducts an urgent disciplinary review.

The alleged incident occurred in August during a private gathering in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, following the Outerknown Tahiti Pro event. While the gathering was not officially affiliated with the WSL, the league stated that all competitors are bound by strict conduct standards outlined in the WSL Rule Book.

"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 league said in a statement.

Cleland has not been publicly named by the WSL, but his removal from competition rankings and from his sponsor Quiksilver's website has indicated his suspension. New South Wales Police have reportedly been made aware of the allegations and are in contact with surfing authorities. The Papeete prosecutor's office in Tahiti had not opened a formal local investigation at the time of reporting.

Cleland has not been charged with any crime related to the Tahiti allegations, and the provisional suspension does not constitute a legal finding of wrongdoing.

Ex-Girlfriend's Claims Deepen Scandal

Separately, Cleland's ex-girlfriend, German professional surfer Noah Klapp, has made public allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault during their past relationship. In a social media post on October 12, Klapp detailed traumatic encounters, claiming Cleland subjected her to physical and sexual abuse, including pinning her down, sexually assaulting her, verbal abuse, and physically harming her during an incident where he allegedly yanked her sweater collar, causing her to fall and be dragged back inside.

Klapp also criticized what she described as systemic issues within professional surfing, alleging a culture that allows harmful behavior to persist due to silence and the protection of reputations. She called for change to prevent young women from experiencing inappropriate advances and unsafe environments within the sport.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Cleland's representatives for comment.