SafeSport Bans, Investigations & an Interview with the New CEO

SafeSport permanently banned Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong; Arthur Akopian and Galina Marinova are facing yet another investigation; plus World Championships roster shockers and federation drama heading into Rotterdam.

We also sit down with new U.S. Center for SafeSport CEO and Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley to discuss regaining trust, data privacy, case timelines, reporting, resources and what she wants to change.

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HEADLINES
• Arthur Akopian and Galina Marinova are under investigation by SafeSport AGAIN, years after the Washington Post investigation.
• Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong have been permanently banned by SafeSport.
• Ana Barbosu speaks out about leaving Romania, the Paris medal controversy and finding a healthier training environment in the U.S.
• Oksana Chusovitina declines her Worlds vault spot.
• North Korea declines its Worlds team spot; Malaysia takes its place.
• Taiwan's federation faces a government investigation after allegedly rejecting Worlds invitations for apparatus specialists.
• Yang Fanyuwei is left off China's Worlds team despite having one of the world's top bars scores.
• Georgia Godwin is not on Australia's Worlds team.
• Alice Kinsella returns to the all-around with a 53.900.

INTERVIEW: SAFESPORT CEO BENITA FITZGERALD MOSLEY
We discuss SafeSport's data security, case timelines, investigations, reporting, prevention and the future of the Center.

SAFESPORT RESOURCES
• In-Person Training Resources
• Abuse Prevention Resources
• Centralized Disciplinary Database Update
• Extended SafeSport Hotline Hours
• SafeSport Investigator Fired After Arrest

GYMTERNET NEWS
• Nadia Comăneci joins the judging panel of "Românii au talent."
• The U.S. Classic returns to Hoffman Estates in July 2027.
• Virgin Atlantic becomes Team GB's official airline for LA28.

WHAT MEETS ARE ON?
• Szombathely World Cup — Sept. 18–20
• Asian Games — Sept. 21–24
• Paris World Cup — Sept. 26–27, the final FIG competition before Worlds.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – SafeSport Breaking News
01:40 – Akopian & Marinova Under Investigation Again
04:13 – Al Fong & Armine Barutyan-Fong Permanently Banned
07:00 – Ana Barbosu Speaks Out
09:50 – World Championships Drama
13:01 – Taiwan Federation Scandal
19:00 – China & Australia Worlds Roster Shockers
25:40 – Alice Kinsella's All-Around Return
31:39 – Full Commission Raffle & Club Gym Nerd
36:04 – SafeSport CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosley
37:51 – Interview: The Future of SafeSport
01:29:00 – SafeSport Data Security Follow-Up
01:29:40 – gymternet News
01:34:47 – Upcoming Meets

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