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Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Olympic Gymnastics Coach Receives Lifetime Ban For Abuse
Gymnastics: US Olympic Trials: View of Ashton Locklear and Qi Han after uneven bars event during ... More Women's Competition at the SAP Center. San Jose, CA 7/8/2016 CREDIT: Donald Miralle (Photo by Donald Miralle /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: SI439 TK1 ) The U.S. Center for SafeSport has permanently banned another prominent U.S. gymnastics coach. Qi Han, founder of Everest Gymnastics in Cornelius, N.C., is a former Chinese national team gymnast turned U.S. coach. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for investigating and responding to allegations of abuse in Olympic and Paralympic sports. On Thursday, June 5, SafeSport ruled Han 'permanently ineligible" on the centralized disciplinary database. The organization cites Han's emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, and the violation of USA Gymnastics policies and bylaws. Han coached former elite gymnast Ashton Locklear to an Olympic alternate spot in 2016 and a World title in 2014. He also coached Haleigh Bryant, a three-time NCAA National Champion with the LSU Tigers. The permanent suspension comes after Han was temporarily sanctioned for the reported misconduct in 2023. During the sanction period, Han was barred from training or contacting athletes without supplementary adult supervision. The process has been tedious for Han's victims. Allegations first surfaced in 2016, with Locklear, his most prominent athlete, reporting emotional and physical abuse to the U.S.A. Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport in 2017. Locklear reported 'yelling" and abrupt expulsion from the gym, and accused Han of 'throwing a cellphone at her.' Han denied Locklear's claims, and in 2018, she told The New York Times that those allegations initially fell on deaf ears. 'They know about his abuse and they did nothing," she reported. The case was passed over to SafeSport in 2017, and Locklear was far from alone. According to the center, allegations against Han came from over 80 witnesses, with details measuring 'thousands of pages of evidence' and 'that span decades.' Han opened his Charlotte-area gym in 2004, nearly two decades before his initial sanction in 2023. Monica Avery, the owner of OSEGA Dream Academy in Asheville, N.C., reported Han's abuse to U.S.A Gymnastics in 2016. Avery alleged that she had seen Han 'kick an athlete' at a gymnastics competition in Texas. Avery also expressed frustration with the speed of Han's case. 'The emotional damage all these girls go through is so heartbreaking, and it could have been prevented if Han would have been stopped years ago,' she said. While the ruling is subject to appeal, the interim CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, April Holmes, delivered the following statement regarding the verdict. 'This outcome sends a clear message that sport culture is changing and accountability is moving the needle.' SAN JOSE, CA - JULY 10: Ashton Locklear competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. ... More Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by)
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
SafeSport issues permanant ban on elite gymnastics coach in latest chapter of long-running case
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] DENVER (AP) — 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.' ___ AP National Writer Will Graves contributed to this report. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
SafeSport issues permanant ban on high-profile gymnastics coach in latest chapter of 9-year-old case
DENVER (AP) — 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. 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.' 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.' ___ AP National Writer Will Graves contributed to this report. ___ AP sports:
