The U.S. Center for SafeSport has listed Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong for permanent ineligibility from participation in programs and activities under U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport authorities. The entries are not yet final: the couple has 10 days to appeal and request arbitration, according to The Kansas City Star.
The public disciplinary listing identifies emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, abuse of process, violations of governing-body policies or bylaws, and retaliation as the sanction categories. SafeSport says it does not disclose details of individual investigations, while its published description says permanent ineligibility is reserved for egregious misconduct and bars participation in Olympic and Paralympic sport, according to the Star and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Earlier sanctions and GAGE’s status
The permanent-ineligibility entries follow suspensions imposed in December 2025. Fong received a five-year suspension ending Dec. 22, 2030, while Barutyan-Fong received a one-year suspension ending Dec. 22, 2026, according to the Star and Inside Gymnastics Magazine. Fong’s request to delay his suspension was denied.
Great American Gymnastics Express, the Blue Springs club the couple operates, subsequently lost its USA Gymnastics membership. USA Gymnastics said the termination followed alleged noncompliance with SafeSport suspensions despite notice and an opportunity to comply, according to the membership notice published by Inside Gymnastics Magazine.
The membership action also affected GAGE’s athletes. USA Gymnastics gave athletes registered with the club until March 2, 2026, to affiliate with another member club; athletes who did not transfer would be ineligible for USA Gymnastics-sanctioned competition while remaining registered with GAGE, according to the same notice and Gymnastics Now.
What is known about the investigation
The Star reported that SafeSport’s investigation was understood to have begun in 2020, while Fong told the newspaper he became aware of it in 2019. The Star also reported that approximately 40 complaints were initially associated with the matter and that Fong said the number was later reduced to five. Fong and Barutyan-Fong denied misconduct or abuse, according to the newspaper.
GAGE was founded by Fong in Blue Springs in 1979 and became a prominent training center whose athletes included Olympians and medalists, according to the Star. The club is no longer affiliated with USA Gymnastics, but the permanent-ineligibility listings remain subject to the couple’s appeal rights.
