Category: Gymnastics

Former U.S. Olympic gymnastics coach Don Peters was banned from the sport for life amid allegations of sexual abuse in November 2011.

Under the terms of the ban by USA Gymnastics that rocked the gymnastics world and the Olympic movement, SCATS and all other USA Gymnastics member clubs are prohibited from being involved with Peters.

Yet despite the ban, Peters has continued to oversee SCATS investments, has been listed as SCATS president and a “key employee” on financial documents, has made appearances at the SCATS facility and has charged meals on SCATS credit cards, an Orange County Register investigation has found.

Peters, 67, also is listed as the “sole shareholder” of a second Orange County gym, the for-profit Olympica Gymnastics Academy (OGA) in Laguna Hills …

USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body, began looking into Peters’ involvement with the two Orange County gyms after being contacted by the Register for comment last week.

“USA Gymnastics has banned Don Peters permanently from membership,” USA Gymnastics spokesperson Leslie King said in an email to the Register. “Its Member Club requirements mandate that a club cannot hire or be associated in any way with any person who is permanently ineligible for membership in the organization. USA Gymnastics is reviewing the matter.”

Banned coach Don Peters kept ties to 2 Orange County gymnastics schools, financial records show