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