Blue Springs gymnastic coaches suspended after years-long abuse investigation

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (KCTV) - Two elite gymnastics coaches in Blue Springs have been suspended and banned from contact with athletes after an investigation into abuse allegations.

Al Fong and Armine Barutyan were suspended on Monday, Dec. 22, by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for physical and emotional misconduct, according to the disciplinary database.

The married couple owns and operates Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE) in Blue Springs. They have trained dozens of world-renowned athletes like Leanne Wong and Kara Eaker, who were on the 2021 U.S. Olympic team.

According to the SafeSport registry, both coaches are barred from participation in USA Gymnastics-sanctioned activities. This includes coaching, training, judging or contacting athletes in covered programs.

Additional conditions include required education, no contact orders, and probationary terms.

The suspensions come after Fong told KCTV5 in a June 2024 interview that respect was the secret to successful coaching.

A few years into his coaching career, Fong said he realized that “laying down the hammer” was not the answer.

The Orange County Register first reported in February 2023 that Fong was under investigation by SafeSport for physical, verbal and emotional abuse. The report cited confidential SafeSport documents.

The suspensions announced Monday mark the conclusion of that investigation. However, as of Tuesday, both misconduct charges remain listed as “subject to appeal/not yet final” in SafeSport’s database.

It remains unclear whether GAGE will continue to operate or how the suspensions will affect current students at the facility.

KCTV reached out to GAGE for comment and received a statement in response:

SafeSport was created to investigate abuse allegations in Olympic sports following the Larry Nassar scandal that rocked USA Gymnastics.