KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Center for SafeSport suspended two well-known Kansas City-area U.S. Gymnastics coaches on Monday.
SafeSport suspended Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong for physical and emotional misconduct. SafeSport’s database notes that the suspension is subject to appeal and not yet final.
The coaches own the GAGE Center in Blue Springs.
Fong has coached several Olympic athletes, including, most recently, Leanne Wong and Kara Eaker on the 2021 U.S. Olympic team.
Fong’s suspension is scheduled to last five years. Barutyan’s suspension is one year.
The GAGE Center responded to SafeSport's decision in a Facebook post:
"We have been notified of the U.S. Center for SafeSport's decision regarding allegations that date back more than three decades.
"While we fully support the mission of SafeSport and the importance of creating healthy, safe training environments for athletes, we are deeply disappointed by this outcome and respectfully disagree with the findings.
"These determinations were made without eyewitness testimony and through a committee-based process. We believe the decision does not fairly reflect the full record or context and we intend to exercise our right to arbitration.
"Our focus remains on athlete safety, thewell-being of our gym community, and ensuring that this matter is addressed through the proper legal channels. Out of respect for the process, we will not be commenting further at this time."
SafeSport is a nonprofit watchdog organization created by Congress after the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. The online database notes coaches and trainers connected to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movements who are subject to restrictions or sanctions.
The KSHB 41 I-Team detailed the work of SafeSport in 2022.
—
