A young woman was suspended from
coaching throughout Italy by a preliminary investigations judge
on Tuesday in the latest in a series of cases of allegedly abuse
of young rhythmic gymnastics athletes here.
The coach, 30-year-old Stefania Fogliata, is accused of having
abused eight athletes aged between 10 and 14 at a gym in the
town of Calcinato, near Brescia, since 2017.
The judge said the athletes were subjected to insults and
humiliation on a daily basis and sometimes they were hit too.
Earlier this month the Italian Gymnastics Federation (FGI)
dismissed Emanuela Maccarani from the role of technical director
of rhythmic gymnastics in relation to allegations of bullying
from some young athletes.
Maccarani, who has continued as coach of the national team, and
her Russian assistant Olga Tishina are under investigation by
criminal prosecutors over allegations of psychological abuse of
athletes.
Prosecutors in Brescia are investigating after the mother of two
sisters who have left the sport filed a complaint over alleged
psychological abuse the girls were subjected to by coaches in
relation to their weight and physical appearance.
Two former members of the national team, Nina Corradini and
Anna Basta, last year told La Repubblica that they suffered
humiliation and pressure in relation to their weight at a
rhythmic gymnastics academy.
Maccarani said the accusations came from athletes who were
bitter after not being selected for the Olympics.
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