Olympic gold medallist rips Hockey Canada for paying her $4K for post-concussion medical expenses

Olympic gold medallist Katie Weatherstonsaysit was"unjust" of Hockey Canada to tell herit only had$4,000 available to cover medical expenses for an ongoing traumatic brain injury she sustained while playing for Team Canada.

She's now speaking out publicly and questioning Hockey Canada's priorities in light of recent reports thatthe organization has paid out millions of dollars in settlements for sexual abuse allegations.

"It was a slap in the face back then, when I was told they only have $4,000 to give me," Weatherston told CBC News.

"And now it's absolutely shocking what's come out and that they had no money for me, but they have money for this. It's not fair. I don't want to see it happen to other young female athletes."

Hockey Canada has come under intense public scrutiny in recent weeks overits use of its National Equity Fund made up in partof players'registration fees to settle a $3.5 million lawsuit. A woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight hockey players in 2018, including members of the men's World Junior team.

Hockey Canada later tolda parliamentary committee that it has withdrawn another $7.6 million to pay out nine complainants with sexual abuse claims since 1989.

The organization has since defended the National Equity Fund, arguingthat it is used "to support anyone who might have been injured or harmed where insurance policies were insufficient."

Weatherston said she doesn't understand why thisfund isn't being used to pay for her treatment.

In a media statement, Hockey Canada told CBC News that the "safety of our athletes" is its "highest priority" and thatthe organization has different insurance policies or self-insured funds "that may be available" to players injuredatTeam Canada sanctioned events.

The organization said it also has aHealth Benefit Trust that covers some otherwise uninsured medical and dental expenses up to a maximum of $5,000.

Weatherston said that isn't enough.

"The medical care I need is about $30,000 to $40,000 a year," she said. "I can't afford to pay that much toward my medical bills, so I'm not getting the care I need."

WATCH | Weatherston wouldtrade her gold medalif it meant gettingher health back:

Olympic gold medallist criticizes Hockey Canada over medical expense payment

2 years ago

Duration 2:08

Canadian Olympic gold medallist Katie Weatherston says it's unfair that Hockey Canada told her it only had $4,000 to cover her medical expenses for an ongoing traumatic brain injury she sustained while playing for Team Canada, questioning Hockey Canada's priorities after reports revealed the organization paid out millions for settlements related to sexual abuse allegations.

Weatherston said that for the past 16 years, she's struggled with daily headaches,chronic exhaustion and the sensation of her ears popping, like she's on an airplane with a cold.

She said she'spaying roughly $15,000 a year out of pocket on medical care, including physiotherapy andchiropractor appointments. Weatherston said shehasalso resorted to doing her own acupuncture, cupping and massages to cut costs.

Her injuries started in 2005 when she flew over the handlebars during a bike race with her teamand landed on the pavement, knocking out three teeth, according to a Hockey Canada injury report viewed by CBC News.

Then, in September2006, she washit from behind during an inter-squad game at Team Canada's training camp. Weatherston says her headsmashed into the boards.

A Hockey Canada doctor cleared her during the game to go back out on the ice, said Weatherston.

Later during the same game, Weatherston collided with a teammate and bumped heads with another ina face-off. Days later, she said, she ended up in ahospitalemergency room feeling nauseated and experiencingpain at the back of her neck and at thetop of her spine.

'My head didn't even hit the ice'

Aftertime off the ice, Weatherson said, her career came to a sudden haltin 2008 after she fellduring a pick-up game in Ottawa.

"My head didn't even hit the ice," she said. "I felt my brain just go splish-splosh back and forth inside my skull and I just knew that I was in trouble."

A Hockey Canada injury reportwritten by an Ottawa doctor and datedOctober 2012said that as a result ofmultiple concussionsin 2005, 2006 and 2008, Weatherston had been left with prolonged post-concussion syndrome that was "possibly permanent."

Weatherston said she didn't sue or file an insurance claim with Hockey Canada at thetime because she was still hoping to recover and go to the Olympics again.

"I was 25," she said. "I thought for sure I would get back into the game.

"You don't want to go up against Hockey Canada. You don't want to be blacklisted."

Personal injury lawyer Brian Cameron reviewed Weatherston's documents and said that while her situation is"certainly unjust and ...certainly unfair," she waited too long to sue and is now past the statute of limitations.

"The reality is, had she sued in time, Hockey Canada is insured," said Cameron. "She waited too long and now she's in the situation where it looks like she's going to have these problems over the course of her life."

Weatherston sought a legal opinion in 2013 that found she could sue for "vicarious liability" over allegations Hockey Canada's doctor was negligent by clearing her to play. Thelaw firm saidthat in orderto get past the two-year statute of limitations, they would have to show"there was fraudulent concealment by Hockey Canada of its knowledge of concussions," according to the law firm's report.

Emails viewed by CBC News show that it wasn't until 2012that Weatherston got in touch with Hockey Canada for help payingher medical bills.

According to one of those emails, thesince-retired head of insurance and risk management for Hockey Canada,Glen McCurdie, told Weatherston there was an accidental death and dismemberment policy that had a "traumatic brain injury component" but addedthat it was "relatively new" and he didn't think she'd qualify.

Weatherston said in an email to Hockey Canada that she had suffereda "chronic and what may be a lifelonginjury.

"Is there anything else Hockey Canada can do to support its athletes?"

A 'shot to the gut'

Todd Jackson, Hockey Canada's senior manager of insurance at the time, responded toWeatherstonin June 2014,sayingthe organization had already paid Weatherston $6,000 for the bike accident during training. He offered her another $4,000 to help with her ongoing medical expenses.

"Unfortunately, the $4,000 is all I have to work with. Sorry," Jackson wrote in an email to Weatherston.

CBC News's attempts to reach Jackson and McCurdiethrough Hockey Canadafor comment were unsuccessful.

Personal injury lawyer Jacqueline Small, who hasexperience as a high-level athlete herself,says it's "disappointing" that Hockey Canada's insurance policy at the time only covered $5,000 for medical expenses, asmost serious injuries require years of extensive rehabilitationwhich is notfully funded by public health care.

"Our national team players dedicate their lives to hockey and to proudly representing our country," said Small. "One would hope there would have [been] sufficient financial support for rehabilitation, given their sacrifice to the sport and to wearing the Maple Leaf jersey."

Weatherston said it was an "extra shot to the gut" to watchthe Hockey Canada scandal unfold since May.

"They closed the book on me," said Weatherston. "I had a great experience with Hockey Canada,some of the best memories of my life. But I also had a terrible experience because I felt like they just threw me to the wayside.

"I definitely would give back my gold medal in a heartbeat for my health."

WATCH | Hockey Canada has paid 21 settlements for sexual misconduct since 1989:

Hockey Canada has paid 21 settlements for sexual misconduct since 1989

2 years ago

Duration 2:58

Hockey Canada officials revealed the organization has paid out nearly $9 million in settlements since 1989 to 21 people alleging sexual misconduct.

Her partner Alexandra Pinfold is a registered nurse. She said she doesn't understand Hockey Canada's priorities.

"Why should she suffer when they had the capacity to help?" said Pinfold. "That's not OK. It's an injustice to women in athletics, really."

Weatherston's mother Anna Weatherston said she now wonders"if it was a great idea to put her into hockey."

CBC News asked Hockey Canada why it didn't use the National Equity Fund to helpWeatherston with herongoing medical bills.

The organization said that out of "respect for privacy and confidentiality, it would be inappropriate ...to discuss an individual's specific case through the media."

"We are sorry to hear that Ms. Weatherston has concerns regarding her past injuries,"Hockey Canada said in a mediastatement to CBC News. "Should there be new information about her medical case, we encourage her as we would with any Hockey Canada member to reach out to us."

Hockey Canada said its insurer "would make any determinations" about her entitlement to coverage.