British Gymnastics has been accused by a campaign group of a “serious institutional betrayal” by not including more people on a list of banned coaches and members. A list, external of 62 people was published on Wednesday as part of the governing body’s ‘Reform 25’, external plan. Those on the list, which will be continually…
They are not household names, but many are locked deep in the minds of those they abused. Today, as British Gymnastics publishes its long-awaited ‘banned and expelled’ list, the gymnasts who carry the scars inflicted by those now named will feel partly vindicated. The list, published online, comprises 63 names, more than half of whom have criminal…
One year on from the publication of a landmark report highlighting ‘systemic’ abuse in gymnastics, ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott hears from a former gymnast who says the sport’s governing body tried to silence her after she posted online about her ex-coach’s misconduct. The only reason former elite gymnast and now aspiring British Gymnastics coach Jess…
British Gymnastics’ “inept and dysfunctional” system means the “wheels of change are barely turning” a year on from the publication of the damning Whyte Review into abuse in the sport, a campaign group says. Friday marks 12 months since an independent investigation found issues of physical and emotional abuse within gymnastics in Britain were “systemic”….
The chair of British Gymnastics has called for the government to establish an independent safeguarding body across all sports to “show we care as much about athlete welfare as we do about medal table success”. Mike Darcey said national governing bodies have “neither the expertise nor resources” to handle abuse allegations, and that individuals involved…
Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, British Gymnastics chair Mike Darcey says an independent safeguarding body will “help restore confidence” in how complaints into athlete welfare are dealt with. Read more here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/gymnastics/65613495
British Gymnastics (BG) has revealed that of the more than 200 cases that emerged from the review into the sport’s abusive culture, only 74 have been completed. The cases were serious enough to warrant further investigation through an independent complaints process; but BG is unwilling to confirm how many coaches have been sanctioned as a…
British Gymnastics has doubled its spending on welfare and safe sport to about £1m a year as part of its plan to reform the sport. The Whyte Review, released in June 2022, detailed “systemic” issues of physical and emotional abuse. It led to the governing body creating an action plan to create safe, positive and…
New safeguarding standards to protect athletes from abuse and harassment have been issued by the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation. The sport’s international investigations agency has created the standards to see “impactful action” before the 2024 and 2028 Olympics. The framework is designed to protect whistleblowers and abuse survivors. It is also aiming to investigate complaints, improve…
Warning: This article contains references to rape and sexual abuse More women have come forward after a survivor of historical child sexual abuse at the hands of a former trampoline coach spoke out. Last month, BBC Sport reported the account of ‘Emma’ – her name changed for anonymity – who claimed she was another survivor…