Rayfield assists us with these contradictions by saying that, by the standards of his time, Chekhov was a judophile.
It was clear to Rayfield that no one would consider him a sexual abuser. 
mnli hypothesis: It was clear to Rayfield that no one would consider him a sexual abuser.  premise: Rayfield assists us with these contradictions by saying that, by the standards of his time, Chekhov was a judophile.