British gymnastics coach Claire Barbieri is suspended
- Published
A British gymnastics coach has been suspended.
Claire Barbieri (nee Starkey) is the director of Robin Hood Gymnastics Club in Nottingham and a national technical advisor for Scottish Gymnastics.
She was formerly the director of coaching at Notts Gymnastics Academy.
Former England gymnast Nicole Pavier, who in July told BBC Sport of her experiences within the sport, was previously coached by Barbieri.
British Gymnastics confirmed Barbieri's suspension to BBC Sport, while Scottish Gymnastics said they were aware of her suspension.
British Gymnastics said: "Suspension is a 'non' blame process to protect both members to whom the suspended person may pose a risk and the suspended person who has had allegations made against them, imposed where judged necessary while we or the police or children's services investigate a complaint.
"A suspended person cannot take part in any British Gymnastics regulated activity (including coaching, judging, taking part as a gymnast etc) but remains a member of British Gymnastics."
In a statement to BBC Sport, Barbieri said: "In view of the ongoing investigation by British Gymnastics, with which I am fully co-operating, I have been advised that it is inappropriate for me to go into any detail at this time, other than to acknowledge that the regime for training elite gymnasts can at times be a tough one.
"However, throughout my career I have followed British Gymnastics best practice and I have always and continue to treat the welfare of the gymnasts I coach as my absolute priority.
"Anything which has been done by me throughout my time of being a gymnastics coach has always been done in the interests of trying to achieve excellence, but whilst also safeguarding the physical and mental health of each gymnast so that they achieve to the best of their potential.
"Whilst I do of course have every sympathy with any gymnasts who have suffered mental and/or physical abuse whilst performing and participating in gymnastics, I am confident that both myself and my coaching team have done nothing which sits outside of recommended practice and procedure adopted by British Gymnastics at the relevant time and I continually reviewed our approach to maintain best practices in line with performance evidence."