National level gymnastics coach Elizabeth Brubaker has been suspended by Gymnastics Canada, Gymnastics Ontario, and the Sarnia-based Bluewater Gymnastics Club.
In a news release issued Monday, Gymnastics Canada said it had received a number of written formal complaints that outlined alleged violations of its ethics and code of conduct policies, over an extended period of time a number of years ago.
Gymnastics Canada said the provisional suspension is in keeping with its complaint management protocol, and the next step will be to investigate the allegations. The organization said that could take up to a month to complete.
The statement said that, in the meantime, Gymnastics Canada and Gymnastics Ontario will work closely with the Bluewater Club to ensure that the competition and training needs of all athletes in the club remain well served.
The CEO of Gymnastics Canada, Ian Moss, told BlackburnNews.com Tuesday that he was in Sarnia Friday to talk to board members and parents.
"It's a difficult time, obviously, when anything like this happens and gymnastics is a very busy sport," said Moss. "So part of this whole, entire process is looking for ways to help the club manage the coaching side, and of course the emotional impact of such actions."
The suspension of Brubaker comes as her husband Dave Brubaker faces judgement February 13 in an ongoing criminal trial being held in Sarnia.
Mr. Brubaker, the former director of the national women's gymnastics team, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation.
-With files from Josh Boyce and Colin Gowdy
