Don Peters, coach of the U.S. gymnastics team that made history at the 1984 Olympics, has been permanently banned, USA Gymnastics said Wednesday.
USA Gymnastics also removed Peters from the Hall of Fame, The Orange County (Calif.) Register reported. The newspaper said the governing body acted because of allegations that Peters molested young gymnasts in the 1980s.
"A USA Gymnastics' hearing panel has concluded the investigation regarding Don Peters and has ruled that Peters will be listed as 'permanently ineligible' for membership in USA Gymnastics, and that Peters' membership in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame will be revoked, along with any rights and privileges connected to either," a USA Gymnastics statement said.
The group's action follows an investigative story by the Register. More than a dozen former gymnasts described being molested by coaches, including at least two who said Peters had sex with them.
Peters, who coaches at the SCATS gym in Huntington Beach, Calif., trained dozens of Olympic gymnasts. He was the coach of the 1984 team that won eight team and individual medals.
Source: UPI