A former gymnastics coach, Sean Gardner, was arrested by the FBI on federal child pornography charges, more than three years after allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct at a gymnastics academy in Iowa and Mississippi were reported. Despite suspensions and investigations by SafeSport, delays in legal proceedings and investigations have left victims without justice for years, highlighting issues in the handling of abuse cases in sports.
A former gymnastics coach, Sean Gardner, accused of sexual abuse and child pornography, was arrested by the FBI in 2024, years after allegations surfaced and SafeSport suspended him, highlighting issues in the handling and investigation of abuse cases in sports.
A former gymnastics coach, Sean Gardner, was arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges over four years after allegations of sexual abuse at a prominent U.S. gymnastics academy surfaced. Despite suspensions and investigations by SafeSport, Gardner continued to work in healthcare, and authorities uncovered evidence of abuse and illegal recordings, highlighting systemic issues in handling such cases.
The U.S. Soccer Athletes Council, along with members of the U.S. women's and men's national teams, has called on Congress to address what they perceive as shortcomings in the Center for SafeSport's policies. In a letter sent to Congress, they expressed concerns about cases being administratively closed without resolution, SafeSport's exclusive jurisdiction preventing governing bodies from reevaluating decisions, and the retraumatization of victims through the appeals process. They urged for the creation of an efficient and fair system to ensure athlete safety and protection from abuse.
