GEF is giving away gifts for the New Year - During case, they sanctioned heads of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation
Defendants:
• Mariana Vasileva, former AGF Rhythmic Gymnastics Head Coach and member of AGF Executive Committee;
Liable for various mistreatments and physical abuse against athletes, including beating for weight gain; for requiring athletes to perform or train when they were not fit to do so, so as to put gymnasts wellbeing and health at risk; for orally abusing and weight-shaming athletes; for withholding monies and/or rewards of athletes; for depriving and/or preventing athletes from having contact with their families and/or other private communication by depriving them of their mobile phone.
She shall be excluded from participation in any FIG activities and other international events for a period of 18 months, which sanction shall be suspended for 3 years; prohibited for life from being the head coach of any FIG-affiliated Federation; Prior to any return to FIG-regulated gymnastics, she shall be required, as precondition of her return, to undergo safeguarding training 3 months prior to her return to gymnastics to satisfaction of FIG; “Honorary Coach” Diploma awarded in 2019 shall be withdrawn
• Siyana Vasileva, AGF Rhythmic Gymnastics acting Head Coach, member of FIG Athlete Commission and ex member of FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee;
liable for hitting gymnast with a phone.
She shall be excluded from participation in any FIG activities and other international events for a period of 18 months, which sanction shall be suspended for 3 years;
As a condition of suspension of Siyana Vasileva’s period of exclusion, she shall:
— Undertake and satisfactorily complete training approved by GEF, in relation to good practice relating to behavioral awareness and safeguarding of children and young persons to be arranged and supervised by AGF, and report on which to be sent by AGF to FIG and GEF
— Undergo 12-month period of monitoring by a person agreed by GEF who is appointed by AGF, and report on which to be sent by AGF to FIG and GEF.
• Natalia Bulanova, AGF Sport Director (You may have also seen her on judging panel);
Acquitted
• Evgeniya Vilyayeva, coach with AGF
Liable for harassing a gymnast about her weight.
Shall be excluded from participation in any FIG activities and other international events for a period of 12 months, which sanction shall be suspended for 2 years; as condition of suspension of Evgeniya Valiyeva’s period of exclusion, she shall: /as Siyana Vasileva/
• AGF itself
Liable for all of infringements by Individual Respondents, AGF coaches.
Shall be suspended from participation in 25th Council Meeting in 2025 and in 86th Congress in Bangkok in 2026; excluded from participation in any FIG activities and other international events for period of 6 months, which sanction shall be suspended for 12 months subject to completion of requirements in respect of safeguarding (AGF shall appoint qualified safeguarding expert, agreed with GEF, to inspect and to review its safeguarding procedures and mechanisms, including its disciplinary processes, and who shall produce an initial report to GEF by 31 March 2025, and reports on reviews quarterly thereafter until 31 December 2026, which reports shall: Identify any failings in safeguarding procedures and mechanisms, and make recommendations for any improvements or adjustments to be made with a time frame for remedy or enaction; act on and remedy any recommendations made by safeguarding expert within timeframes identified; appoint to its governing board an independent and impartial safeguarding director, who shall report to GEF quarterly until 31 December 2028 on all and any safeguarding cases within AGF; pay a fine of CHF 30,000.
Case started back in 2020, on charges of abusing gymnasts.
Parties have right to appeal decision to GEF Appeal Tribunal within 21 days of notification of decision.
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