A FORMER Commonwealth Games gymnast who represented Scotland has been spared jail for sex charges against schoolgirls.
Ryan McKee, 25, knew the girls were 14 when he became involved with them through the gymnastics club where he coached. …
McKee was given a community payback order with 250 hours unpaid to be carried out within nine months.
He has not to be in contact with girls under 16 and for the next eight months has to remain within his home between 8pm and 8am.
He will also be on the sex offenders register for three years. …
Category: parents
USAG cancels a club membership
USA Gymnastics terminated the membership for American Institute of Gymnastics in Aurora effective Oct. 11 because the gym owners violated policy and membership requirements, said Toby Stark, director of safe sport for the national organization.
The gym is specifically accused of violating a requirement that member gyms don’t associate in any way with a person who is permanently ineligible for membership in USA Gymnastics, Stark said. …
Update – It sounds like the banned member is Michael Cardamone who was convicted in 2005 of sex abuse.
Rape and the Justice System in a College Town
Gymnovosti posted on how rape is viewed in former Soviet Union nations. Things are even worse there for girls and women than in the west.
The protection afforded rapists there, however, reminded me of the protection afforded American Football stars. 🙁
_____ originally posted June 2016
I’m worried when gymnasts – male and female – go off to University.
College athletes have, at least, a support system on arrival. A team. Coaches and staff looking out for them.
You would never have seen Brock Turner’s face if he had been sentenced 3-5 years. Or more. He could’ve gotten 14 years.
When he was sentenced only 6 months people asked:
• Is it because he’s a Stanford student?
• Is it because he’s a scholarship athlete?
• Is it because he’s white?
This case led me to read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer.
The acclaimed author researched 230 rapes in town, most of which either weren’t prosecuted or the prosecutions were bungled. Most rapists walked away without punishment.
This guy did go to trial. If I were on the jury I would have found star quarterback Jordan Johnson guilty of rape.
Instead the state of Montana paid Johnson $245,000 under a settlement where he agreed to drop claims that the school and its officials mishandled the investigation against him.
This guy – Brandon Vandenberg – former Vanderbilt football player, was found guilty for his role in the gang rape of an unconscious female student in 2013.
Only one of his rapes. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The Department of Education has an investigation ongoing into 192 universities alleged to be mishandling sexual-assault complaints.
A good gift for a student going away to University for the first time would be this book – Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town
Most young people don’t know the law. Are clueless when it comes to date rape. Acquaintance rape. 😦
related – my full review of the Krakauer’s book
petition demanding change at USAG
By any standards, response by USA Gymnastics to the Nassar scandal has been slow at best. I assume their lawyers are advising foot dragging in hopes of reducing the number of liability suits.
Three of Nassar’s victims ask you to sign a petition:
Jamie Dantzscher – 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Artistic Gymnastic
Jessica Howard – 3 Time National Champion, Rhythmic Gymnastics
Jeanette Antolin – Former USA National Team Member, Artistic Gymnastics
Change USA Gymnastics Leadership in Wake of Sex Abuse Scandal
People hoped that the forced resignation of President Steve Penny in March 2017 would make a difference.
Has it?
Penny got a $1 million severance package from an organization with annual revenue of about $23.7 million (2015).
If USA Gymnastics Chairman Paul Parilla resigns tomorrow, will USAG athletes be safer?
I’m not so sure.
But lacking any other way to pressure a monopoly like USA Gymnastics, I signed.
harassment & abuse have no place in sport
Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.
“Stranger Danger” – tips for kids
USAG responds to McKayla Maroney
“USA Gymnastics admires the courage of those, like McKayla Maroney, who have come forward to share their personal experiences with sexual abuse. Because of their strength in coming forward, predators can be held accountable for their actions. We, like so many others, are outraged and disgusted by the conduct of which Larry Nassar is accused. We are sorry that any athlete has been harmed during her or his gymnastics career.
“We are strengthening and enhancing our policies and procedures regarding abuse, as well as expanding our educational efforts to increase awareness of signs to watch for and reporting suspicions of abuse, including the obligation to immediately report. USA Gymnastics, its members and community are committed to working together to keep our athletes as safe as possible.”
SafeSport updates
If you are trying to make sense of recent accusations and denials online, click over to GymCastic.
Jessica puts together a summary at the 1 hour mark of the audiocast.
SafeSport updates about Dominque Moceanu, Mary Lou Retton, Michigan State, Jeena Nelson (a sex offender volunteering at Altius Gymnastics Club in Utah, not the one in WI) and 1992 Olympic Champion, Tatiana Gutsu has accused Vitaly Scherbo of rape.
McKayla Maroney molested by Nassar
Read her statement on twitter. #MeToo
My Gym Dad
Is going strong.
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 