The technical director of Italy’s rhythmic gymnastics nationwide group was suspended on Thursday after a gaggle of former athletes made allegations of bullying over their weight and diets.
The president of the nation’s gymnastics federation (FGI) stated Emanuela Maccarani had been relieved of her position inside the governing physique whereas investigations into her behaviour have been carried out.
She had been within the place since 2018. She can be the group’s long-time head coach.
“I’ll take over the position in an interim capability,” Gherardo Tecchi stated in an announcement after a gathering of FGI’s ruling council.
Maccarini and her assistant, Olga Tishina, are being investigated by each the FGI and prosecutors in Monza, in northern Italy, over allegations final yr of mistreatment of younger athletes.
Tecchi added that Maccarani will, nonetheless, proceed to educate the group “till the sporting tribunal makes its resolution”.
In late October, three former rhythmic gymnastics, together with two double world champions, made claims of abuse in a collection of interviews with day by day La Repubblica.
On of the gymnasts, Anna Basta, stated she had twice considered killing herself, whereas 19-year-old Nina Corradini stop the nationwide set-up in 2021 after spending “each minute of the previous couple of months wishing I may escape”.
Giulia Galtarossa, a world champion in 2009 and 2010 who’s and now 31, stated she was berated by a training assistant for consuming a pear, and handed her weight-reduction plan sheet with the message “now we have a bit piggy within the squad”.
In an interview with day by day Corriere Della Sera on Tuesday, Maccarani denied claims of psychological abuse. She stated the accusations got here from disgruntled gymnasts who weren’t chosen for Olympic squads.
Mother and father of gymnasts coaching on the nationwide centre in Desio wrote a letter to the pinnacle of Italy’s Olympic Committee Giovanni Malago in assist of the 56-year-old, who has received a raft of medals for Italy since taking cost in 1996.
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© AFP/Wished in Rome
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