Two former high profile Sarnia gymnastics coaches have withdrawn their appeal of disciplinary action against them.
Dave Brubaker was permanently banned from any future involvement with GymCan while Elizabeth Brubaker’s suspension was extended until January 18, 2024. They filed an appeal in April, 2021.
Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss said in a statement to Sarnia News Today, and later posted on GymCan.org, that the Brubakers cancelled their application Friday and their decisions are now upheld.
“We are relieved that this matter is now concluded so that we can focus on what matters most and that is to ensure that all participants have a healthy training and competition environment,” said Moss. “We appreciate how difficult this experience has been on the brave athletes who came forward and vow to make the necessary systemic improvements to ensure a positive and healthy culture moving forward.”
Gymnasts who alleged they were abused by the Brubakers during their time at Bluewater Gymnastics Club in Sarnia issued a statement Wednesday morning saying the decision brings them "immense relief."
"We eleven survivors of abuse by Dave and Elizabeth Brubaker welcome news of their decision to withdraw the appeal they initiated one year ago, following the March 2021 disciplinary judgement which found 54 counts of misconduct — violations that include emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse — in their capacity as coaches over multiple years, up to and including the year of Dave’s arrest in 2017," it read.
The members of "Bluewater Survivors," including Melanie (Rocca) Hunt, April Nicholls, Alheli Picazo, Abby (Pearson) Spadafora, Alysia Topol and six others referred to as Athlete A, B, H, I, J and K, said they pushed for a third-party investigation in 2019.
Ten of the 11 individuals said they testified in the 2020 disciplinary procedure and were members of Bluewater Gymnastics. The group said the 11th athlete belonged to another gym.
"While no punishment can or will reverse the damage done by the abuse we endured as athletes, we are confident the panel’s decision will serve to protect others and prevent future harm from being done."
The Bluewater Survivors added that the judicial process with Gymnastics Canada was "harmful and re-victimizing."
"It centred abusers over victims, compounded the trauma of survivors, and prolonged what had already been an open-ended nightmare."
The group members said they are choosing to stay involved in the sport and are working toward "meaningful and positive change within Gymnastics Canada and throughout the culture of the sport."
They add that the Bluewater Gymnastics Club, as it exists and operates today, is not the subject of their concerns.
Dave Brubaker was formerly the National Team Director for Gymnastics Canada’s women’s artistic gymnastics national team. He was suspended December 15, 2017, after being charged by police. Brubaker was found not guilty of sex-related charges related to a female gymnast, but despite the criminal acquittal, his suspension was extended and an internal investigation launched into written complaints received by the sport’s national governing body.
Elizabeth Brubaker was provisionally suspended on January 18, 2019, after written complaints were received relating to her time as an elite coach at Bluewater Gymnastics Club in Sarnia.
-with files from Dave Dentinger