142 days before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French women's gymnastics team has just seen one of its coaches, Nellu Pop, suspended from his duties as a precautionary measure, for acts of violence and mistreatment .
The decision of the Ministry of Sports was announced this Wednesday by France Info.
“As part of an administrative investigation carried out by the Ministry, facts falling under article 40 of the code of criminal procedure concerning Mr. Pop were brought to the attention of the Sports Directorate.
They were reported to the public prosecutor, Le Parisien learned a little later this Wednesday.
It was decided to suspend Mr. Pop from his duties with the French team as a precautionary measure, to allow the legal and administrative procedures to take place peacefully.
All measures are taken to preserve the preparation in the best conditions of our gymnasts with a view to Paris 2024, with the ANS and INSEP, where they train.
»
Seen !
2 spectators VERY attentive to the competition 😉 Nellu Pop and Jianfu Ma, GAF France coaches!
#coupesnat2015 pic.twitter.com/99XavjJK1t
— French Gymnastics Federation (@ffgymnastics) December 13, 2015
The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, opened an investigation in May 2023 after the broadcast of testimonies from six former gymnasts in a Stade 2 report. Insults, humiliating remarks, slaps… the violence denounced was both physical and psychological .
Valentine Sabatou even recounted being forced to participate in a competition despite a fracture.
Numerous reports, several of which concerned Nellu Pop, coach at INSEP since 2013, had also been made to the ministry's cell, Signal-sports.