IFF information coordinator Mari Myllärinen is studying the issue in international floorball for a Masters thesis.

Myllärinen's aim is to collect information from the national bodies on their prevention policies and stategies, and on the factors that facililate this process.

The first phase of the study, an online survey, has been completed by nine countries: Australia, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Interviews will follow early this year and the results - together with the full thesis - are due to be made available this summer.

"Several studies have showed that harassment and abuse are present in sport, regardless of the sport discipline," Myllärinen told floorball.sport

"The purpose of this study is to gather information on the current status of prevention in international floorball and the factors that either facilitate the process or hinder it.

"The idea is also to make recommendations on how stakeholders in sport could better protect athletes from inappropriate behaviour and abuse.

"I want to thank the associations that have so far completed the survey and by doing this, showed their interest in this topic."

The results from the study will be utilised for updating the current IFF Sexual Harassment and Abuse Guidelines. 

The main results and the study will also be available on the IFF website.

"It is very important that the whole floorball community is observant to any kind of abuse within the sport and that we all have means available to react to it if it appears," said the IFF secretary general John Liljelund.

"This study conducted by Ms. Myllärinen is greatly helping and we look forward to edit our policies based on the results."