SafeSport issues permanant ban on elite gymnastics coach in latest chapter of long-running case
DENVER — The gymnastics coach for a one-time Olympic alternate received a lifetime ban Thursday from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Qi Han, whose case dates to at least 2016 and who had been under a temporary sanction for the past two years, was listed as permanently ineligible, subject to appeal, on the center's disciplinary database.
It said he was found to have committed emotional misconduct, physical misconduct and violated USA Gymnastics policies and bylaws.
Han, a former gymnast on the Chinese national team, and his wife, Yiwen Chen, opened Everest Gymnastics in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2004. The gym quickly gained prominence within USA Gymnastics. In 2016, Han served as the coach to Olympic alternate Ashton Locklear.
Locklear told The New York Times in 2018 that Han physically and emotionally abused her and at one point threw a cell phone at her. Han denied the allegations.
Several other athletes who trained at Everest came forward over ensuing years, describing similar experiences with Han. As of Thursday night, Han was still listed as the co-owner and head coach at Everest. Emails sent by The Associated Press to multiple addresses at the gymnastics club were not immediately returned.
Details from Han's accusers started coming out the year before the SafeSport Center opened in the wake of extensive abuse committed by former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The Times reported that USA Gymnastics handed Han's case over to the center shortly after it opened in 2017.
The center's interim CEO, April Holmes, portrayed the latest development as a sign the center is making sports safer.
'We know it is not easy to come forward, so we thank those who shared their stories and helped bring resolution to this case,' Holmes said. 'This outcome sends a clear message that sport culture is changing and accountability is moving the needle.'
In explaining the lengthy amount of time it took to resolve the case, the center said in a statement that it involved more than 80 witnesses, thousands of pages of evidence and transcripts and allegations that span decades. The center said it stood by the fairness and thoroughness of the process but also 'remains committed to increasing efficiencies in our process to help resolve cases more quickly.'
National Writer Will Graves contributed to this report.
sports: /sports
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
More Noise, Less Nudge: IPL ads fail to stand out
Mumbai: Despite record-breaking viewership and soaring ad spends, most ads aired during IPL 2025 may have already faded from public memory. While the on-field cricket remains fiercely competitive, advertising creativity appears to be on autopilot, raising serious questions about return on investment and long-term brand impact. This year, the IPL began with what many consider one of the best—and probably the costliest—ads of the season. Dream11's campaign featured Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and a galaxy of celebrities and cricket stars, setting the tone for the tournament and its rivalries. It was witty, memorable and widely shared. But after that strong start, most ads barely made a mark. Take the much-discussed spot featuring Rohit Sharma talking about financial planning, or MS Dhoni promoting a tile adhesive. Both had star power and brand fit, yet the creative left viewers more puzzled than persuaded. Data from TAM Media Research reveals that more than 105 advertisers and 190 brands participated across the first 70 matches of IPL 2025, with a 27% jump in advertiser count and a 28% rise in brand count over last year. The overall ad volume on TV grew marginally, just 0.45% higher than IPL 2024. But the creative bar hasn't risen alongside. Also read: IPL giant GMR tackles rugby with India League, aims to build Olympic-aligned IP 'While a few brave brands are pushing creative boundaries, most of the advertising seems to be working in a safe, high-frequency mode," said Anshu Yardi, vice-president–business partnerships & communication at TAM Media Research. 'The opportunity is still massive, but innovation requires risk, and during IPL many brands may want to play safe." Ad fatigue at a time of infinite content The issue might extend beyond just ineffective ads; it could reflect a deeper cultural shift in how we define 'good" advertising itself. Abhishek Jain, business director at creative agency Virtue India, believes the competition for consumer attention has moved far beyond traditional formats. 'Ads 'seem' boring now compared to the content—quick, snackable pieces of sponsored entertainment —they are competing with," he said. 'We are now finding relatability in culture and culture in content. Traditional ads just don't have that same shareability or zing." The IPL skew: Not made for storytelling Sandeep Goyal, media veteran and chairman of Rediffusion, is blunt in his assessment. 'The mediocrity of IPL actually reflects the slipping standards of creativity overall. But specific to the IPL, for years now, the secondages have been dominated by the money power of VC-funded brands. Regular brands in FMCG just can't afford the IPL rates. So that skew is the starting point," he said. In the context of advertising, 'secondages" refers to the total number of seconds of advertising airtime. Also read: Will CCI's crackdown reshape the ad industry? Media veteran Raj Nayak explains 'The brands that spend—like a lot in BFSI—are really not seasoned campaigners. They are out to buy noticeability and brand recall, not build emotive narratives that endear them to consumers. Most ads are focused on product superiority, much like 'explainer' videos." He also takes aim at the overuse of celebrities. 'The less said about celebrities, the better. It is now a formula. Nothing more. No attempt to differentiate. No attempt to craft a story that engages. Most celebrities are high on recognition but low on emulatability. A Rohit Sharma dispensing advice on investing! MSD (Dhoni) talking of paints. Consumers just shrug off most such ads. They may remember the brand and even the celebrity, but do not necessarily buy as per the celebrity's endorsement because the pitch carries no real conviction." Creativity costs, and time is a luxury A chief marketing officer (CMO) of a major consumer brand, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that IPL advertising may never become a true creative showcase like the Super Bowl. 'You don't get everything—budgets are tight, and IPL runs every day for nearly two months. Dream11, Swiggy, ZooZoos from Vodafone—they've created brilliant ads in the past. But those are rare exceptions," the executive said. 'Most CMOs simply don't get the time or investment needed to make IPL campaigns creatively rich. The result is rinse-repeat formats, celebrity plug-ins, and safe messaging." Marquee moment or media burst? Another senior executive from a brand that advertised during IPL 2025 wondered whether advertisers truly understand what a marquee property should be. 'If you're treating IPL as a launch pad, that's fine. But how much can you really build when you're racing against time and media costs just to deliver a message?" According to them, IPL's biggest strength—aggregation of eyeballs—is also its biggest creative limitation. 'If 60-65 crore people are watching, that's huge. But then you're up against frequency fatigue, creative limits and the ticking clock. It's hard to craft something with depth when you're just trying to be everywhere, fast." Also read: Rooter picks up exclusive digital rights for esports tournament BGMI Masters Series The executive added, 'Are people even anticipating IPL ads the way they used to? Are we just spending for attention, or are we creating anything truly memorable? The search for the elusive advertising season continues… is IPL the Nirvana?" So, can the IPL ever be India's Super Bowl? Everyone wants to recreate the cultural buzz and longevity that Super Bowl ads in the US command. But experts agree that for IPL to reach that level, Indian advertisers need to move beyond formula, spend more time on narrative and treat the IPL window not just as a media buy, but as a storytelling opportunity. 'Campaigns are not being created for the long run," Goyal added. 'They are usually for one season, and then everybody feels the need for a refresh because digital has created attention-deficiency syndrome." Until that mindset changes, IPL may remain a grand stage—but one where few ads deserve an encore.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
‘Silent Enemy', ‘Dangerous Adversary': What Russia's Spy Files Reveal About Its Best Friend China
Moscow, New York, New Delhi: While Vladimir Putin sings praises of an 'unbreakable friendship' with China, a leaked internal document from Russia's top security agency paints a very different picture – one that could shatter illusions of brotherhood between the two authoritarian giants. In the damning eight-page report leaked from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Beijing is labelled not as a partner, but as a 'dangerous adversary' silently undermining Moscow from within. According to the classified files accessed by The New York Times, the FSB has sounded alarm bells over China's growing espionage operations. The document accuses the country of covertly recruiting Russian agents, targeting disillusioned scientists, stealing sensitive military technologies and snooping on Russian Arctic expeditions – right under Moscow's nose. The timing of the leak could not be more dramatic. As Putin wages war in Ukraine and leans on China to survive Western sanctions, these revelations hit like a geopolitical thunderclap. The FSB report warns that Chinese operatives are using mining companies and academic partnerships as cover to gather intelligence and assert long-term claims on Russian territory, especially in the Arctic – a resource-rich zone Moscow considers its strategic jewel. Even more shocking, the document alleges that China has been spying on Russian troop movements in Ukraine to extract battlefield data to study Western weapon systems in action. Secret Spy File Leaked by Hackers Lacking a date, the FSB document is believed to have been drafted in late 2023 or early 2024. It was leaked by a hacking group known as Ares Leaks and later verified by The New York Times after consulting six Western intelligence agencies – all of whom confirmed its authenticity. While Moscow has stayed publicly mum, the leak is one of the strongest indicators that show that the trust between Russia and China may be a facade. The report outlines clear counter-espionage priorities aimed at stopping Chinese infiltration. It signals deep-rooted mistrust behind the scenes. Friends with Benefits? China and Russia have portrayed a united front. Since the Ukraine invasion, Beijing has bought up discounted Russian oil and gas, propped up Moscow's collapsing tech supply chains with chips and software and filled the vacuum left by fleeing Western companies. The two nations have even discussed joint moon bases and co-producing films. But the FSB's own assessment makes it clear that the so-called 'friendship without limits' may in fact be a marriage of convenience and an increasingly toxic one at that. As China continues to rise and Russia bleeds in Ukraine, Putin's trust in Xi might soon cost him more than just military secrets. It could unravel one of the world's most strategically fragile alliances. Russia and China may smile in public but in the shadows, the knives are already out.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Dane Antonsen and South Korea's An win Indonesia Open crown
Danish third seed Anders Antonsen beat Taiwanese Chou Tien-chen 22-20 21-14 to clinch his first Indonesia Open men's singles title on Sunday, while South Korea's An Se-young fought back from a game down to claim her second women's singles crown. The emotional win marked a long-awaited triumph for Antonsen, who had finished as runner-up in 2019 against Tien-chen and again in 2024 against Shi Yuqi, but finally clinched the Super 1000 title on his third appearance in the final. Tien-chen raced to a 15-10 lead in the opening game, but Antonsen clawed his way back to edge it 22-20. The second game was far more one-sided, with Antonsen dominating. Moments after sealing the victory, Antonsen collapsed flat on his back, arms outstretched, as the weight of past near-misses and years of perseverance came pouring out. The Olympic gold medallist An Se-young beat Chinese world number two Wang Zhiyi 13-21 21-19 21-15. An, ranked number one in the world, had won her first Indonesia Open in 2021, while Wang was chasing a first crown at the event. Wang was off to a bright start, powering her way to a 10-17 lead before comfortably closing out the opening game. An was once again backed into a corner as a dominant Wang raced to a 5-0 lead in the second game. But the 23-year-old turned the game on its head to level at 18-18 and eventually forced a decider. An was made to work hard, but the All England Open champion held her nerve to come out on top, winning six of the last 11 points in the final game. In the women's doubles final, China's world number one pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning overcame fourth-ranked Malaysian duo Thinaah Muralitharan and Pearly Tan 23-25 21-12 21-19. It was heartbreak for the hosts in the men's doubles as Indonesian pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Isfahani fought hard but fell short in the second and third games against the fifth-seeded duo Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-Jae of South Korea. The final result was 18-21 21-19 21-12 to the Koreans. French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue took home the mixed doubles title after a 21-16 21-18 victory over Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. "I couldn't believe it," Gicquel said. "We never thought we'd get this far after the first round. It's crazy, it was one of our goals to win a big tournament this year. It's a lot of hard work behind this, so we're grateful." It is France's first Super 1000 title. "We are so happy to make badminton a bit more popular (in France) with this win," Delrue said. "I hope we'll get more media and more players coming to play. I wanted to be the first to win a big tournament so that's done."
