To the USA Gymnastics
Board of Directors,
USA GYMNASTICS FAIR PROCESS INITIATIVE
Protecting Athletes, Volunteers, Coaches, Judges, and the Future of Our Sport
USA Gymnastics is built on the passion and sacrifice of athletes, coaches, judges, parents, club owners, and volunteers who dedicate countless hours to our sport. Our community deserves a system of accountability that is fair, transparent, independent, and protective of the rights of every member.
This initiative is bigger than one individual or one case. It is about strengthening the system for everyone who comes next. We respectfully call upon the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors to establish the following fundamental member rights:
1. The Right to Attorney Representation
Members facing investigation or discipline should have the right to be represented by an attorney, not merely advised by one. Counsel should be permitted to speak on behalf of their client, respond to allegations, raise objections, and actively represent them throughout the process. An individual should not be forced against themselves and should have the right to remain silent, leaving their defense to an attorney.
2. The Right to Know the Accusation
Members should receive clear written notice of the allegations against them at the beginning of an investigation, including the conduct alleged, the specific rules allegedly violated, and the relevant dates. No member should have to defend themselves against accusations or theories of misconduct that have not been fully disclosed, in short, USAG should follow the “4-corner-rule” of the complaint.
3. The Right to See the Evidence
Members should receive timely access to all relevant non-privileged evidence, witness statements, and investigative materials relevant to their case. Members must have a meaningful opportunity to review the evidence, respond to it, and present evidence in their own defense.
4. The Right to Relevant Witness Testimony
Members should have a meaningful mechanism to require testimony from USA Gymnastics members, employees, officials, or other participants with material firsthand knowledge of a case. A member should not be left to defend themselves alone simply because other relevant participants are unwilling to voluntarily testify.
5. The Right to an Independent Process
When USA Gymnastics seeks discipline against one of its own members, an independent compliance officer unaffiliated with USA Gymnastics should oversee procedural fairness. The same internal office should not prosecute a member while also serving as the authority determining whether USA Gymnastics followed its own rules. Additionally, questions of the “disinterested panel” should be limited to the scope of the complaint, documentary evidence, or clarifications of testimony.
6. The Right to Enforceable Timelines
Published grievance timelines should apply to USA Gymnastics just as deadlines apply to its members. When required timelines or procedures are violated, meaningful procedural remedies should exist. An independent compliance officer should have authority to enforce these requirements when USA Gymnastics itself is a party to the proceeding.
7. The Right to Speak Up Without Retaliation
Members should be free to report concerns, seek legal counsel, question decisions, advocate for athletes, and raise good-faith concerns about USA Gymnastics without fear of retaliation, increased punishment, exclusion, or lost professional opportunities.
8. The Right to a Complete Hearing Record
Members should receive the complete record of disciplinary proceedings, including available video recordings, transcripts, exhibits, and written decisions. These materials should be preserved and provided promptly so members and their attorneys can meaningfully evaluate and pursue an appeal. It is fundamentally unfair for one party to possess the complete record of a proceeding without the other party having equal access to that record.
9. The Right to an Affordable & Meaningful Appeal
Every member facing significant discipline should have access to a clear, independent, timely, and financially accessible appeal process. Appeal procedures, deadlines, costs, and filing instructions should be clearly established and readily available. No member should lose the opportunity for independent review simply because the process is unclear or prohibitively expensive.
10. The Right to Proportionate Discipline
Discipline should be fair, consistent, and proportionate to the violation — the punishment should fit the offense. After an Ethics & Grievance Panel determines that a violation occurred, a separate and uninvolved decision-maker should determine the appropriate sanction, considering the nature and severity of the violation, intent, harm, prior history, and comparable cases. Separating the finding of responsibility from the determination of punishment would provide an additional safeguard against arbitrary or disproportionate sanctions.
11. The Right to Role-Specific Discipline
USA Gymnastics members often serve in multiple distinct capacities — as coaches, judges, volunteers, committee members, or organizational leaders. Discipline related to conduct in one role should not automatically disqualify a member from every other role. Any restriction should be clearly defined and reasonably connected to the position, responsibility, or conduct at issue.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING
We respectfully call upon the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors to adopt the principles of the USA Gymnastics Fair Process Initiative and make these protections clear, meaningful, and enforceable throughout the Ethics & Grievance process.
Members are expected to follow the rules of USA Gymnastics.
USA Gymnastics employees should be expected to follow them too.