US SafeSport Suspends Gymnastics Coaches Al Fong, Armine Barutyan For Misconduct

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 14:56 IST

The couple, who run Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs, Missouri, have guided numerous U.S. Olympic and world medallists over several decades.

Armine Barutyan (right) recently served on the U.S. coaching staff at the Junior World Championships. (AFP Photo)

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has imposed suspensions on longtime gymnastics coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan for physical and emotional misconduct, as per the organization’s disciplinary database.

The couple, who run Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs, Missouri, have guided numerous U.S. Olympic and world medallists over several decades.

Fong’s suspension extends through December 22, 2030, while Barutyan, a former gymnast from the Soviet Union and Armenia, faces a one-year suspension.

GAGE expressed disagreement with the findings and announced plans to contest the decision.

“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," the training center stated on Instagram. “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."

Barutyan recently served on the U.S. coaching staff at the Junior World Championships and Junior Pan American Games, where GAGE athlete Lavi Crain competed.

Respondents have 10 days to request arbitration, during which an independent arbitrator will decide whether the sanctions are upheld.

“We are grateful to those who come forward with their stories, which allow us to hold individuals accountable and shift sport culture," SafeSport told Reuters.

Fong’s career has long been under scrutiny.

Two gymnasts who trained under him later died after suffering severe health issues. Julissa Gomez, who was paralysed in a vaulting accident, died in 1991, and Christy Henrich died in 1994 from complications related to eating disorders.

Fong has previously denied allegations of abusive conduct.

SafeSport, an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 2017 to prevent and respond to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement, has reported a steady rise in cases, with complaints surpassing 8,000 in 2024, according to its data.

With Reuters Inputs

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