Officers from the Inala Child Protection and Investigation Unit received a report on September 16 that a child had been physically assaulted by a coach at the gym. An investigation was launched and is continuing, a police spokesperson said.
Gymnastics Australia and Gymnastics Queensland confirmed they were aware of the incident and said strict mandatory reporting requirements had been followed. In a joint statement, the organisations said that as soon as the club became aware of the allegation, the matter was immediately escalated to Gymnastics Queensland, Gymnastics Australia, Sport Integrity Australia and Queensland police.
“The safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our sport is our highest priority. Gymnastics in Australia has zero tolerance for any behaviour that places members or children at risk,” the organisations said. “The club immediately suspended the coach [from any clubs affiliated with Gymnastics Australia] pending an investigation.”
The organisations wrote to parents of the club last week to inform them of the allegations and encouraged them to report any further information to Sport Integrity Australia. “Gymnastics Australia and Gymnastics Queensland remain firmly committed to ensuring gymnastics is a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants, and we are focused on supporting the local community through this challenging period,” they said, adding that the matter was being managed by Queensland police and they would not provide further comment on the investigation.