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.

 

[QuietColours]

Do we think they'll appeal?

I have to imagine they would. It doesn't make much sense not to, from their perspective, unless they've been advised there's basically no way they'd win. Al would be 77 when his suspension is up. I suppose he could just choose to retire, but I can't think he'd want to end his coaching career with a suspension for abuse if he could help it.

 

[RedBirdie]

Never thought I'd see the day.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Should have happened 30 years ago but today works.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

It's a Christmas miracle.

 

[KristyJ]

Re: appeals I wonder if Armine will choose not to appeal and just get the year over with, so as not to have to deal with it dragging out.

 

[MaryClare]

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.

I don’t know. Gage is very cultish and the Crain family were very much drinking the kool aid

 

[RedBirdie]

In addition to the Crains, Kaylee Sath and Aulya Daniels are on the national team. No idea what the Milton sisters planned for this year, as they graduate in the spring and have been dealing with injuries.

 

[Passion]

No idea what the plan is, but GAGE has other elite coaches they could continue training with for 2026. Would be a lot to uproot entire families to train elsewhere when Armine is only suspended for one year and she’s the primary coach, not Al.

 

[BB12]

How was Armine allowed to be Junior World's coach while she was under investigation?

 

[QuietColours]

These investigations take years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been under investigation for more than a decade, honestly. Barring very extreme situations, you can't force someone to give up their livelihood for years for something that has not been investigated and proven true.

 

[RedBirdie]

The Orange County Register reported in 2023 that the investigation started no later than summer 2020. So five years, at a minimum.

 

[BB12]

These investigations take years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been under investigation for more than a decade, honestly. Barring very extreme situations, you can't force someone to give up their livelihood for years for something that has not been investigated and proven true.

Let them continue at their normal coaching position if you must but they should not be appointed to a higher, national positions after an investigation has started on them.

Thats why companies need 'no fault step down policies' to prevent situations like this arising. Especially when it's involving the coaching of minors. The protection of children should be paramount.