Latest news with #U.S.CenterforSafeSport
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
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
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Olympian, former Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder due in court today on prostitution charge
A former Ohio State University and Olympic wrestler is scheduled to appear in a Franklin County courtroom. Kyle Snyder, 29, is scheduled for a May 19 arraignment in Franklin County Municipal Court. Snyder's attorney, Eric Hoffman, confirmed Snyder plans to plead guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct during the appearance. Snyder was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor. The U.S. Center for SafeSport suspended Snyder as a result of his May 9 arrest during a Columbus police prostitution sting. Snyder is currently living in Pennsylvania, according to court records. On May 14, he released a statement on social media, addressing his arrest. "I want to thank everyone who has reached out with kindness and support," Snyder wrote. "My focus is on my relationship with the Lord Jesus and my family. This is not (the) conclusion of my journey. 1 Peter 4:17-18." Snyder was arrested on May 9 at a hotel on the far North Side of Columbus. According to court records, Snyder responded to an online advertisement and went to the hotel to meet an escort. Snyder agreed to pay the woman, who was an undercover police officer, $160 to perform a sex act. Body camera video released by Columbus police shows officers entering the hotel room while the undercover officer was in a bathroom and arresting Snyder, who had removed his pants and was sitting on the bed. Snyder was initially charged with one count of engaging in prostitution, which is a first-degree misdemeanor. The maximum possible sentence is 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. For first-time offenders, which Snyder is believed to be, typical sentences have included required attendance at a "John School." The program is focused on providing education about the risks and harms of prostitution and human trafficking. Engaging in prostitution became law in Ohio in 2021. The disorderly conduct charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail, a $250 fine and 200 hours of community service. Snyder is expected to enter a guilty plea to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to his attorney, Eric Hoffman. Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Ebner could sentence Snyder after the plea is entered or set a sentencing date in the future. The disorderly conduct charge has a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail, $250 fine and 200 hours of community service. Snyder won three consecutive NCAA heavyweight championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, becoming the youngest wrestler to win an NCAA, world and Olympic title in the same year. Snyder competed in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, where he won the silver medal, and in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he placed fourth. Ohio State University inducted him into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024. Prior to being suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Snyder won the U.S. Open on April 26. That win in the 97-kilogram division qualified for Final X in the 2025 U.S. World Team qualification, which is scheduled to take place in June. It is unclear if Snyder will be reinstated by that time. The day before his arrest, the Real American Freestyle wrestling league announced Snyder had been signed to the league. Hulk Hogan serves as commissioner for the league, which is scheduled to have its first event in August. Snyder is well known in the wrestling community and has held camps for young wrestlers in Pennsylvania, where he and his wife live. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@ or on Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Olympian, former Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder in court on prostitution charge
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
SafeSport Center to Grassley: ‘Should have been additional scrutiny' on ex-cop's hiring
The top lawyer for the U.S. Center for SafeSport wrote to Sen. Chuck Grassley that 'there should have been additional scrutiny' when the center learned a vice cop it was considering hiring as an investigator had been subject to an internal investigation at his last job. The center ended up hiring Jason Krasley, who was later charged with rape and other felonies from episodes that happened when he worked as an officer in Allentown, Pennsylvania. About 2 1/2 years after bringing him on, the center fired Krasley when it learned of his arrest for allegedly stealing money seized in a drug sting he participated in while with the force. The Krasley affair led to the center's CEO, Ju'Riese Colon, losing her job two weeks ago. It was general connsel Jessica Perrill who responded last week to a letter originally directed to Colon from Grassley, R-Iowa. Among Grassley's questions were why the center hired the former cop knowing he was subject of an internal investigation. 'There should have been additional scrutiny into the concerning statements by the reference, which would prompt additional scrutiny today,' Perrill wrote. 'Unfortunately, we have been unable to find any evidence of further inquiry by the Center into the internal investigation.' Perrill referenced a letter sent March 14 by Colon to Grassley that outlined stronger hiring policies the center has implemented in the wake of Krasley's arrest. They include enhanced reference checks and access to the National Decertification Index, which keeps track of officers who have been sanctioned because of misconduct. Perrill wrote that the center learned on Sept. 4, 2024, of the 2019 theft allegations against Krasley and others involving harrasment from a separate arrest in June 2024. But, she said, the agency took no action because 'law enforcement' asked the center to not do anything to tip off Krasley about a criminal investigation. In the two months between learning about the allegations and firing Krasley, Perrill said the center 'closely monitored Krasley's work.' 'Nothing of concern was observed during this period,' Perrill wrote. ___ AP sports:
San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
SafeSport Center to Grassley: 'Should have been additional scrutiny' on ex-cop's hiring
The top lawyer for the U.S. Center for SafeSport wrote to Sen. Chuck Grassley that 'there should have been additional scrutiny' when the center learned a vice cop it was considering hiring as an investigator had been subject to an internal investigation at his last job. The center ended up hiring Jason Krasley, who was later charged with rape and other felonies from episodes that happened when he worked as an officer in Allentown, Pennsylvania. About 2 1/2 years after bringing him on, the center fired Krasley when it learned of his arrest for allegedly stealing money seized in a drug sting he participated in while with the force. The Krasley affair led to the center's CEO, Ju'Riese Colon, losing her job two weeks ago. It was general connsel Jessica Perrill who responded last week to a letter originally directed to Colon from Grassley, R-Iowa. 'There should have been additional scrutiny into the concerning statements by the reference, which would prompt additional scrutiny today,' Perrill wrote. 'Unfortunately, we have been unable to find any evidence of further inquiry by the Center into the internal investigation.' Perrill referenced a letter sent March 14 by Colon to Grassley that outlined stronger hiring policies the center has implemented in the wake of Krasley's arrest. They include enhanced reference checks and access to the National Decertification Index, which keeps track of officers who have been sanctioned because of misconduct. Perrill wrote that the center learned on Sept. 4, 2024, of the 2019 theft allegations against Krasley and others involving harrasment from a separate arrest in June 2024. But, she said, the agency took no action because 'law enforcement' asked the center to not do anything to tip off Krasley about a criminal investigation.
Mint
05-05-2025
- Mint
SafeSport Center to Grassley: Should have been additional scrutiny on ex-cops hiring
The top lawyer for the U.S. Center for SafeSport wrote to Sen. Chuck Grassley that 'there should have been additional scrutiny' when the center learned a vice cop it was considering hiring as an investigator had been subject to an internal investigation at his last job. The center ended up hiring Jason Krasley, who was later charged with rape and other felonies from episodes that happened when he worked as an officer in Allentown, Pennsylvania. About 2 1/2 years after bringing him on, the center fired Krasley when it learned of his arrest for allegedly stealing money seized in a drug sting he participated in while with the force. The Krasley affair led to the center's CEO, Ju'Riese Colon, losing her job two weeks ago. It was general connsel Jessica Perrill who responded last week to a letter originally directed to Colon from Grassley, R-Iowa. Among Grassley's questions were why the center hired the former cop knowing he was subject of an internal investigation. 'There should have been additional scrutiny into the concerning statements by the reference, which would prompt additional scrutiny today,' Perrill wrote. 'Unfortunately, we have been unable to find any evidence of further inquiry by the Center into the internal investigation.' Perrill referenced a letter sent March 14 by Colon to Grassley that outlined stronger hiring policies the center has implemented in the wake of Krasley's arrest. They include enhanced reference checks and access to the National Decertification Index, which keeps track of officers who have been sanctioned because of misconduct. Perrill wrote that the center learned on Sept. 4, 2024, of the 2019 theft allegations against Krasley and others involving harrasment from a separate arrest in June 2024. But, she said, the agency took no action because 'law enforcement' asked the center to not do anything to tip off Krasley about a criminal investigation. In the two months between learning about the allegations and firing Krasley, Perrill said the center 'closely monitored Krasley's work.' 'Nothing of concern was observed during this period,' Perrill wrote. First Published: 6 May 2025, 04:52 AM IST
