Former U.S. Olympic gymnastics coach Artur Akopyan has been issued a lifetime ban by the U.S. Center for SafeSport due to multiple allegations including physical and emotional abuse, sexual harassment, and misconduct. His business partner and fellow coach, Galina Marinova, has received a provisional suspension of one year along with probation and education requirements. Both coaches co-owned All Olympia Gymnastics Center in California and were known for training elite gymnasts like McKayla Maroney and Mattie Larson. These disciplinary actions are pending possible appeals by Akopyan and Marinova.

The roots of these allegations date back to a 2016 lawsuit filed by former world medalist Mattie Larson that accused Akopyan, Marinova, and their gym of fostering an abusive environment that allowed sexual assaults by convicted doctor Larry Nassar. This lawsuit was settled for $1 million in 2018, at which point the gym's Hawthorne location was closed amid growing scandal. Despite the closure, the Calabasas gym continued operations and the coaches remained active in the gymnastics community until recent actions by SafeSport.

In 2020, allegations against Akopyan resurfaced when former gymnast Sydney Freidin reported him to SafeSport, but the investigation was initially closed in 2022 due to lack of willing witnesses. The situation changed following a Washington Post investigation in July 2024, which presented disturbing accounts from 10 former gymnasts accusing Akopyan of physically abusive behavior dating back over a decade. After this renewed scrutiny, SafeSport reopened the case, culminating in the lifetime ban announced in October 2026.

The SafeSport ruling now awaits potential challenges through arbitration within ten days of notice, providing an opportunity for Akopyan and Marinova to appeal. This decision marks a significant move by SafeSport to address longstanding failures in athlete protection, responding to widespread criticism over the mishandling of abuse claims in U.S. gymnastics. Meanwhile, the gymnastics community continues to reckon with the implications for athlete safety and accountability going forward.