Dalilah Sappenfield Under SafeSport Suspension

[dorispulaski]

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1433931619627376644

This is a temporary suspension while investigation proceeds.

Although there are no details, we do know Sappenfield coached both John Coughlin and TJ Nyman.

TSL reports up to 12 complaints against Sappenfield.

https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/1433929080123052036

Following this suspension, Sappenfield cannot coach without another adult being present until the temporary suspension is lifted

No USFS team skaters are currently with Sappenfield. However, she was with Crafoord & Crafoord SWE at Cranberry Cup recently

SafeSport link:

U.S Center for SafeSport - Centralized Disciplinary Database

The U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database is a resource designed to keep the public informed when individuals connected with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movements are either subject to certain temporary restrictions pending investigation by the Center...

cdd.uscenterforsafesport.org

Name Dalilah Sappenfield

City Colorado Springs

State CO

Sport Affiliation(s) U.S. Figure Skating

Misconduct Allegations of Misconduct

Action Taken Temporary Restriction(s)

Additional Detail Travel / Lodging Restriction(s), Coaching / Training Restriction(s), Contact / Communication Limitation(s), No Contact Directive(s)

Date of Issuance 09/03/2021

Adjudicating Body U.S. Center for SafeSport

 

[karne]

Finally.

 

[LiamForeman]

Yes, finally. But do you suppose she'll just get a one year punishment and then have it go away with an appeal, like with Zimmerman?

 

[karne]

Yes, finally. But do you suppose she'll just get a one year punishment and then have it go away with an appeal, like with Zimmerman?

Most likely. It seems SafeSport has no real teeth, and I don't doubt that that's entirely by design.

 

[ice_tulip]

Yes, finally. But do you suppose she'll just get a one year punishment and then have it go away with an appeal, like with Zimmerman?

I hadn't heard about Zimmerman's appeal. Do you have more info on that?

 

[TontoK]

I hadn't heard about Zimmerman's appeal. Do you have more info on that?

I've seen some people reference social media posts that Zimmerman's appeal was successful, but I don't see an article from an established news outlet. Still, I don't doubt that he has been reinstated.

SafeSport seems a bit of a toothless tiger, at least in this case.

 

[dorispulaski]

If you search the SafeSport database I linked above, John Zimmerman's name is not listed on it. So he appears to be in the clear, at least for now.

 

[ice_tulip]

So the trend seems to be the following:

1) Safesport announces a suspension
2) People are satisfied that justice (in some capacity) has been served and the abuser has been punished
3) Chatter about the case dies down due to suspension & apparent resolution
4) Once eyes & ears are off the case, Safesport quietly reverses the suspension and the abusers are granted their power again.

Do I have that right?

 

[SnowWhite]

So the trend seems to be the following:

1) Safesport announces a suspension
2) People are satisfied that justice (in some capacity) has been served and the abuser has been punished
3) Chatter about the case dies down due to suspension & apparent resolution
4) Once eyes & ears are off the case, Safesport quietly reverses the suspension and the abusers are granted their power again.

Do I have that right?

No. As far as I know, it's independent arbitrators that the appeals go to. So Safesport is not the one reversing decisions.

 

[karne]

So the trend seems to be the following:

1) Safesport announces a suspension
2) People are satisfied that justice (in some capacity) has been served and the abuser has been punished
3) Chatter about the case dies down due to suspension & apparent resolution
4) Once eyes & ears are off the case, Safesport quietly reverses the suspension and the abusers are granted their power again.

Do I have that right?

The independent arbiters overturn; however, their power is so weak, that in another sport, IIRC, a rapist who admitted it had his suspension overturned, so you can see how effective that is.

 

[gsk8]

Olympic skating coach under SafeSport investigation for alleged verbal abuse still coaches

SafeSport issued temporary measures against U.S. pairs coach Dalilah Sappenfield in 2021. Because it is still working on her case, she keeps coaching.

www.usatoday.com