Gymnastics Canada suspends Edmonton-based coach in wake of sex-abuse allegations

Gymnastics Canada has suspended Edmonton-based coach Michel Arsenault amid allegations he sexually abused some of his former students in Quebec in the 1980s and '90s.

"No athlete should be subject to this type of conduct, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that all of our participants are able to take part in our sport in a safe and welcoming environment," RichardCrpin, chair of the board of directors for Gymnastics Canada, said in a news release.

A Wednesday report by the sports unit of Radio-Canada,CBC'sFrench-language network, detailed the accounts of three gymnasts who said Arsenault sexually abused themwhen they were minors and members ofFlipgym in Montreal.

• Former Quebec gymnasts accuse coach of sexually abusing them as minors in 1980s, '90s

Arsenaultwas fired from the gym in 1993 and left Quebec in 1994. He settled in Edmonton and got a jobcoaching gymnastics at a local gym. In 2002, he and his wife opened their own gym, Champions Gymnastics, which issued a statement yesterday in wake of the Radio-Canada report saying Arsenaultwould no longer be involved in any of the gym's activities and was barred from the premises.

Arsenault, who is well known as one of Canada's top women's gymnastics coaches,has not been charged with any crime. Hedid not respond to repeated requests for commenton the initial story.

Gymnastics Canada and the Alberta Gymnastics Federation both issued statements Thursday stressing that the safety and well-being of the sport's participants is of the highest priority.

Peter Nicol, president and CEO of Gymnastics Canada, said Tuesday the allegations come as the national and provincial agencies are reviewing and updating all policies and procedures, ranging from how to report incidents to conducting background checks.

An important piece of this review, he told CBCNews in Ottawa, iseducatingstaff, coaches, trainers, parents and athletes aboutunacceptable behaviour and what to do if it happens.

"Ishould know that it's not going to impact me as an athlete, that I am reporting something that is reallynot acceptable," Nicol said.

"We should learn from this situation and really make sure that people feel comfortablecoming forward. When they see something that is not acceptable, yes, please report it, bringit to the authoritiesand make sure that it is stopped."

Scott Hayes, president of the Alberta Gymnastics Federation, said its agency has policies in place around the screening of employees, coaches, judges, support staff and volunteers whotravel and work with the athletes.

"We continue to review and update our policies and procedures to ensure that they meet our commitment to safe sport and minimize risks to our participants," Hayes said in a statement.

Thenotice posted yesterday on the Champions Gymnastics website said the gym is taking the allegations seriously and wants to reassure parents and children who attend the facility. The doors to the east-Edmonton gym were locked Thursday morning.

Nicol said actions taken by Gymnastics Canada, the Alberta Gymnastics Federation andChampions GymnasticsmeanArsenaultwill not be able to participate in any gymnastics activities from competitions to training camps "so his contact to any athlete should be cut to zero at this time."

Nicol said the suspensions will remain in effect until the issue has reached"resolution."