British Gymnastics to replace abuse complaints process after victim criticism

British Gymnastics says it will replace the independent complaints process set up after widespread concerns over the treatment of gymnasts, following criticism from victims of abuse.

An independent report into practices across British gymnastics in June 2022 described systemic physical and emotional abuse in the sport and found gymnast wellbeing and welfare had "not been at the centre of British Gymnastics' culture".

It heard from gymnasts made to train on broken bones and others who spoke of a culture of fear. Since then, several gymnasts have taken legal action against the governing body.

Alongside these civil cases, British Gymnastics appointed dispute service Sports Resolutions to run an independent complaints process (ICP).

The BBC has heard from several gymnasts and parents who say the process was flawed and re-traumatising.

Of those who spoke to the BBC one former gymnast, who won a five-figure payout after developing an eating disorder due to the "culture in the sport", says British Gymnastics' approach to victims of abuse was "a complete failure".

Laura - not her real name - said she suffered a year of being bullied and insulted by coaches, being weighed twice a day and pressured to lose weight at just 12 years old.

The 19-year-old subsequently developed anorexia, bulimia and depression - something she and her family blame firmly on her treatment by her gymnastics coaches - and missed almost five months of school.

In October 2023, Laura's case was heard and the ICP panel issued the lead coach at Laura's former club with a warning, due to their "serious concerns" about the approach to weighing gymnasts at club.

However, despite winning a payout from British Gymnastics, some of the allegations about her treatment were not upheld.

"I feel that the ICP process failed me and many other gymnasts," Laura says. "Whilst the compensation I've received through the civil case has proved there was wrongdoing, all I ever wanted was for my coaches to accept accountability and acknowledge that their words and actions were the reason I became ill."

Law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, who represented Laura, says it has more than 28 ongoing claims against British Gymnastics. Laura's mother added: "The whole thing was a shambles. Ultimately, at the heart of this are children - children who ended up with eating disorders or self-harmed because of this culture in the sport."

The BBC originally covered Nicole Pavier's story in 2020.

The now 30-year-old said she was weighed every day of her gymnastics career and developed serious eating disorders as a result. After years of waiting, the paediatric nurse went through the ICP process last year.

"It was horrific," she said. "I wasn't allowed anyone in the room to support me and I wasn't allowed to produce witness statements to corroborate my story. I felt blindsided.

"The panel is not designed for gymnasts to gain a positive outcome, there is still a heavy blame on children and parents."

The panel in Nicole's case partially upheld two complaints about her coach, but ultimately did not deem the coach to be a current safeguarding risk. This means British Gymnastics cannot name them on its public list of banned or suspended coaches.

Survivor-led charity Gymnasts For Change is calling for more transparency in the process. "We have found procedural incompetency and failures in every case we have dealt with," it said.

Christopher Quinlan KC, who oversaw the case management stage of the ICP, said they upheld a number of gymnastics complaints and imposed "appropriate sanctions on coaches".

"Where I… considered there to be a case to answer and the matters alleged were serious, we referred such complaints to panels.

"I did not oversee those panels and had no involvement in their procedures or the decisions they reached. Notwithstanding, I have done my best to address gymnasts' concerns about that stage of the ICP and to understand why those panels are not upholding their complaints."