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. WIN A FULL COMMISSIONED EPISODE You pick the topic. We record a full episode about it. This is currently the ONLY way to commission a full episode. Enter the raffle by October 9. We'll draw the winner at Worlds in Rotterdam! 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 SUPPORT OUR WORK • Join Club Gym Nerd for ad-free episodes, weekly Behind the Scenes, our complete members-only archive, games, score tools, forum and live-show discounts. • Shop GymCastic. HUEL Make healthy eating simple. Get 15% OFF online with code GYMCASTIC at huel.com/GYMCASTIC. New customers only. Thank you to Huel for partnering with and supporting our show! GYMCASTIC TOOLS & RESOURCES • LA 2028 Roster Lab • Elite Score Explorer • International Gymnastics Calendar • GymCastic Games • GymCastic Newsletters • Resistance Resources