GAGE coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan suspended by SafeSport (Pending appeal)

[tsarinajen]

GAGE coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan suspended by SafeSport - Gymnastics Now

Elite gymnastics coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan of GAGE have been suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport – Fong for five years and Barutyan for one year – for physical and emotional misconduct. What the sanctions mean.

gymnastics-now.com

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has issued suspensions to long-time elite gymnastics coaches and GAGE ownersAlvin “Al” Fong and Armine Barutyan, per the USCS Centralized Disciplinary Database.

USA Gymnastics’ Suspended & Restricted Persons Database further revealed the following suspension lengths:

• Al Fong has been suspended for five years (from 12/22/2025 to 12/22/2030)
• Armine Barutyan has been suspended for one year (from 12/22/2025 to 12/22/2026)

Both suspensions are listed as “subject to appeal / not yet final.”

 

[Amber]

Well it is about time..

 

[Puffin]

shocker....

.... said no one

 

[Rich]

What will happen to their elite gymnasts?

 

[QuietColours]

I'm genuinely surprised but gratified that the cases against them came to fruition

 

[cftmoonlight79]

Oh wow. I hope the Crain girls find somewhere or someone great to train them. Ill be interested to hear the details as they come out.

 

[cjguk]

Do we think they'll appeal?

 

[hmmmm]

I was under the impression that Al was in more of an advisory/oversite role with the newer coaches and Armine doing the bulk of the day to day coaching. I do wonder if that was strategic preparation for this senario finally playing out.