'A smack in the teeth' - warned coach to work at international youth event

Clare Hague, head coach at Dronfield Gymnastics Academy, has been coaching at the Horizon Cup, an international youth gymnastics competition in Greece, despite facing a formal warning from British Gymnastics. The warning followed investigations into allegations of fear-based coaching, controlling practices, emotional harm, and punitive attendance policies.

British Gymnastics upheld several concerns raised by complainants but did not disclose which specific issues had been confirmed. Dronfield Gymnastics Academy claimed to have cooperated fully with the investigation and expressed satisfaction that no serious issues were identified. Hague had previously been announced as a coach for the Horizon Cup while under investigation.

One complainant alleged that gymnasts at Dronfield regularly felt afraid to use the toilet, resulting in some wetting themselves or refusing water during sessions. Another complainant claimed their daughter endured years of emotional and physical abuse at the academy, which was described as systemic abuse in a 2022 report by the Whyte Review.

British Gymnastics stated that every concern is treated appropriately and reiterated their commitment to fair and thorough assessments of all information. Campaigners argue that cases like this raise concerns about the effectiveness of addressing complaints and the efficacy of offering retraining to coaches with multiple complaints.