Portland Thorns and U.S. women’s national team star Crystal Dunn spoke out Thursday on her husband Pierre Soubrier’s suspension by the NWSL.
Soubrier had served as head athletic trainer for the Thorns since 2019. But the club has fired him in the wake of a league investigation, which revealed his improper administration of medication containing codeine to players.
After Portland won the NWSL championship in October, the team physician reported concern over Soubrier’s actions during the title run to the Thorns general manager. The general manager in turn brought the report to the league, which opened an investigation into Soubrier.
Soubrier gave players medication with codeine multiple times, without prescription or the supervision of a physician, which is a violation not just of league policy but also of state and federal law, the NWSL found as part of its investigation. In one case, he administered the medication to a player without her informed consent, per the NWSL.
In addition to his dismissal from the Thorns, Soubrier is ineligible to return to the league at least until the end of the 2023 season, and the NWSL commissioner would have to approve his reinstatement.
“Today, I am holding my hands up, apologizing and holding…
