Former Soviet gymnast suspended from sports for life because of harassment

The US Safe Sports Center (SafeSport) has banned Arthur Hakobyan, a former Soviet gymnast and coach of the American team, from engaging in sports activities for the rest of his life. The verdict was announced on Wednesday, October 7. The reason was called assault and psychological pressure, sexual harassment and sexual violations. For now, that decision can be challenged.

As part of the USSR national team, Hakobyan won the world championship in the reference jump in 1983. After completing his performances in 1985, he went to the United States and took up coaching work, and later entered the national team headquarters. He trained with McKayla Maroney, who became the 2012 Olympic champion.

In 2024, The Washington Post published an article where former gymnasts spoke about abuse and psychological pressure in training. 9 of his students claimed that the teacher in a rage threw them on the floor, which caused hematomas to appear on the skin.

In 2016, gymnast Matty Larson sued Hakobyan. According to her version, he created an atmosphere of humiliation and insults in the gymnastics center, which, she believes, opened the way for sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, a former US team doctor. After 2 years, the parties concluded a settlement agreement, and Larson received $ 1 million.

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