LATE last year when Andy Woodward bravely opened up about the sexual abuse he had suffered as a young footballer at the hands of his coach at Crewe Alexandria, he gave others the courage to speak out.

Almost immediately football was engulfed in scandal as the horrific sexual abuse which had taken place in the past suddenly came to light. The NSPCC Helpline set up to help victims come forward soon received more than 1,500 calls.

Difficult questions began to be asked about current child protection processes so such abuse could never be repeated.

There can be no room for complacency.

Yesterday we read in The Herald about Lara Gorman who, as a 16-year old triathlete, had a sexual relationship with her adult coach. This again raised questions about how well children are protected in sport.

Ms Gorman’s story highlighted a gap in our law which must be remedied urgently. Currently, it is an offence for those in a position of trust such as teachers and social workers to engage in sexual activity with children under 18. Yet the definition of “positions of trust” is limited.

Roles such as sports coaches or youth workers, for example, are not currently considered under the law despite the fact that they are clearly in a position to develop trusting and influential relationships with young people.

A position of trust should not be determined by the delivery of a narrow range of occupations or specific settings, but by those who have a special opportunity to develop trusting and close relationships with young people. Why should potentially vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds have less protection from abuse solely because of the setting in which the exploitation by a trusted adult takes place?

NSPCC Scotland’s Trust to Lead campaign is demanding the law is strengthened to ensure those working in sport, and other relevant positions, are held to the same high standards we should expect from all professions where adults are in a position of trust over children and young people. However, such reform, though necessary, is not a panacea. The issue is more about sexual abuse than sport.

Joanna Barrett is NSPCC Scotland policy manager