Zhejiang Coaches Probed Over Gymnast Abuse Allegations

Caption: A 13-year-old gymnast lies injured on a hospital bed after falling from a school building.

Two coaches have been placed under criminal investigation after a parent alleged her teenage daughter — a gymnast at a sports school in China's Zhejiang Province — was physically punished and pressured for money before falling from a building, a case that has sparked widespread public concern.

Zhejiang Sports Vocational and Technical College said yesterday that local police have formally opened a case involving the two coaches. The school has suspended them and removed them from their posts pending further investigation.

The mother of the 13-year-old gymnast, surnamed Fu, publicly claimed her daughter was repeatedly slapped and verbally abused during training. She also alleged the family was asked to provide money under the guise of holiday gifts and training penalties, totaling more than 40,000 yuan (US$5,500) in cash and transfers.

The cause of the fall is under investigation as the mother demanded to watch the surveillance video and an apology from the school.

The gymnast is recovering well, the school told Guangming Daily, adding that it is continuing discussions with the family regarding rehabilitation, academic arrangements and the student's future plans.

Zhejiang Sports Vocational and Technical College is a provincial full-time institution specializing in competitive sports education, overseen by the provincial sports authority with guidance from the education department.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.