The news that a Dutch beach volleyball player who served a prison sentence for raping a child 10 years ago will represent the Netherlands is causing heated debate at this year’s Paris Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2014 for raping the 12-year-old girl, according to British media. He was released from prison in 2017.

She has been selected to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

“We know Steven’s story,” emphasized Michel Everert, general manager of Nevobo – the Dutch Volleyball Federation – in a statement.

Everert said the federation spoke extensively with the Dutch National Olympic Committee (NOC), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and van de Velde before his return to the sport.

“He was then convicted under English law and has served his sentence. Since then, we have been in constant contact with Stephen, who now has be fully integrated into the Dutch volleyball community,” Everaert added in the statement.

Van de Velde served part of his sentence in England before being transferred to the Netherlands, where he was released and returned to racing in 2017, according to Nevobo.

In 2018, van de Velde told public broadcaster NOS: “I did what I did. I can’t take it back, so I’ll have to suffer the consequences. You can of course judge. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.”

“He’s proving to be an exemplary professional and human being, and there’s no reason to doubt him after his return,” Everert added.

The federation noted that the 29-year-old knew that this “dark period in his life” would resurface, “and he is obviously not happy about it.” In the statement released by Nevobo, he said he is grateful for the opportunity.

“I understand that in the run-up to the biggest sporting event in the world, this can attract international media attention,” van de Velde added.

“Because of the second chance I got from my parents, friends, acquaintances and colleagues, who accepted me again after the biggest mistake of my then young life,” he said.

“I am also grateful to the Dutch Volleyball Federation, because they offered me, with clear terms and agreements, a future in this beautiful sport again. But I also remember the teenager I was, who was insecure, not ready for a life as a top athlete and unhappy inside because I didn’t know who I was and what I wanted.”

Nevobo and the Dutch NOC said in a statement that they were supporting the youngster, adding that they, along with the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation), had consulted experts who deemed the likelihood of him relapsing as “nil”.