Cambridge gymnastics coach Elvira Saadi receives lifetime ban

Hall of Fame Cambridge gymnastics coach Elvira Saadi has been banned for life from coaching.

The decision from Gymnastics Canada’s Discipline Committee came down Nov. 6 after an investigation into code of ethics and conduct complaints of “maltreatment and abuse” by four gymnasts and a nonathlete about the coach and partial owner of Dynamo Gymnastics in Cambridge.

Three of the gymnasts are former athletes coached by Saadi at Dynamo “for extended periods of time” and one is a current athlete.

While the committee imposed a 10-year suspension to Saadi, explicitly stating she can have no contact or engagement with athletes in any manner after the 10-year suspension ends, it effectively removes her from coaching for life.

The 71-year-old — who coached Olympic gymnasts Yvonne Tousek, Crystal Gilmore, Madeline Gardiner, and Victoria and Brooklyn Moors — has also received a 10-year suspension from judging, officiating, attending competitions, developing content for training or competitions, or volunteering for Gymnastics Canada committees or boards. That suspension also carries on for life.

Saadi, however, will be allowed to return to training coaches following a 10-year suspension, with credit for time served under a provisional suspension period handed to her in October 2020.

According to the panel’s decision, “The limited opportunity to train coaches following her suspension is in recognition of Ms. Saadi’s experience and technical skill and is intended to benefit the gymnastics community once appropriately contextualized by adherence to safe sport practices.”

Elliot Saccucci, a partner at Loopstra Nixon LLP, said in an email he did not represent Saadi in the code of ethics and conduct hearing but has filed an appeal on her behalf.

Saccucci said Saadi was “the only party” not to have assistance of legal counsel, while the complainants and Gymnastics Canada were funded by the sport’s governing body.

“Ms. Saadi pleaded no contest to the findings of fact and breaches identified in a confidential investigation report,” Saccucci said. “She did this to expedite this process and because she could no longer afford legal representation.”

“Because of the unprecedented sanction meted out by the discipline panel, Ms. Saadi has been left with no option but to appeal,” he said.

Jim Dowling, co-owner of Dynamo Gymnastics, said he couldn’t comment on the decision as it’s under appeal, but said Saadi hasn’t worked at the club for three years.

The investigation, conducted by external investigator LeeAnn Cupidio, was conducted with individuals identified as Complainants A, B, C, D, E.

Outlined in the decision, the complaints began in 2020, with Complainant A, a witness to events, alleging maltreatment and the ongoing behaviour of Saadi, filed on Oct. 24 of that year. Complainant B, a current athlete, who was also coached by Saadi, including when she was a minor, filed a complaint on Nov. 2, 2020. Allegations came forward from Complainant C on April 23, 2021, with Complainant D and E coming forward Aug. 23, 2021.

The agreed upon facts include that Saadi would routinely weigh her athletes and make negative and/or comparative comments toward them in an attempt to motivate them to maintain a certain weight. She also encouraged them to push through mental blocks and injuries.

In addition, Saadi would routinely manipulate the athletes’ energy levels, weight, eating and drinking habits by restricting food and water intake and encouraging the use of supplements, sometimes as an alternative to food and at time in a manner detrimental to their health.

Saadi also ignored or rejected more than one athlete following a poor training or competitive result and restricted interactions during national competitions and Olympic Games.

Saadi, it stated, had difficulty keeping her emotions under control during times of stress and took out her anger on athletes by being “physically and verbally abusive toward them.”

Saadi rejected medical opinions and recommendations of professionals when it conflicted with her own personal views or interfered with her coaching strategies. As well, she ignored policies and procedures and chose instead to rely on her experience and personal opinions.

Saadi extended control over athletes by using her position of power to threaten their dreams and ambitions of Olympics and medals, by insinuating through actions and words they had to do it “her way.” She also engaged in a pattern of behaviour that instilled fear, yet was “normalized” among athletes, parents and some members of the gymnastics community.

The nature of Saadi’s comments and conduct, it stated, created a toxic environment to the point where gymnasts dreaded going to the gym, considered quitting and/ or did quit the sport because of it.

Saadi’s actions, the investigation found, breached 12 Gymnastics Canada policies.

The decision notes Saadi did not dispute the investigator’s findings and expressed regret, but “she did not seem to have gained any insight or understanding as to the seriousness of her wrongdoing and its consequences.”

The decision stated, “She appeared unable or unwilling to acknowledge the severity of hurt suffered by the complainant athletes. This absence of insight into the seriousness of the misconduct combined with Ms. Saadi’s suggestion that she no longer poses a danger to athletes can be considered an aggravating factor.”

Saadi is also a member of the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame.