British gymnastics names banned coaches after Whyte Review and Announce New Action Plan | News News
The names of the banned coaches will be found online but removed once the penalty has been issued; The “Reform ’25” action plan is the result of complaints and findings published in June’s Whyte Journal about misconduct in gymnastics.
By Rob Harris, Sky News sports reporter
Last Updated: 10/18/22 3:06 pm
British Gymnastic has launched an action plan to create “safe, positive and equitable experiences” for gym goers.
Gymnastics England will name coaches who have been banned as part of a response to an investigation into exposing a culture of sport abuse.
The regulator intends to develop a 40-point “Reform ’25” action plan that aims to create “safe, positive and equitable experiences” for exercisers.
It follows more than 400 complaints to Whyte Magazine published in June and shows young British gymnasts have been humiliated, embarrassed and suffered permanent psychological or physical harm. .
One challenge for fitness officials is determining the commensurate level of sanctions based on the scale of misconduct — from sexual and physical abuse to bullying and malnutrition.
While British Gymnastics will publish a list of coaches banned online, their names will be removed once the ban has been served.
It opens up the possibility of coaches returning to the sport with athletes and any guardians never aware of past misconduct.
British Gymnastics CEO Sarah Powell told Sky News: “I think we’re going to have to be really convinced as to why someone was banned, and then going back to the sport. I don’t know until I look at the decisions of those results. that fruit.”
British gymnastics will publish a list of coaches banned online, although names will be removed once the punishment has been carried out
Coaches suspended pending the outcome of the investigation will also not be named – opening up the possibility of them working in other countries in a different sport.
Aspiration to improve welfare, protection and complaints is “zero tolerance for abuse – whether it’s emotional, physical or sexual” and more specialized staff to handle complaints .
Regarding educational priorities, Reform ’25 emphasizes the need for “a cultural understanding that creating fear in coaches has no place in gymnastics”.
There are concerns that British sport has developed medals because of a culture of ethics, but the action plan states there should be “recognition that striving and achieving success is not the same as happiness”.
British gymnastics wants reforms implemented by 2025 – a year after the next Olympics in Paris – but with regular updates on progress on environmental improvements focusing on high performance while eliminate risk.
“The key for us is to make sure that those who have been affected, we acknowledge the failures of the past, and we make sure that we set a new direction for the future,” said Powell.
“The reforms we are making today will ensure that the sport can be a safe, positive experience for all involved.”