Olympic pair figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield banned for life over physical and emotional misconduct

Dalilah Sappenfield, the 2008 USFSA Coach of the Year, has been banned for life by the US Center for SafeSport amid allegations of mental misconduct and verbal abuse. Sappenfield was banned following a nearly two and a half years investigation about these allegations.

The allegations against Sappenfield include the incident of verbal abuse against the 2018 Four Continents Championship gold medalist, Tarah Kayne which also instigated the latter to cut her wrist.

According to Kayne's interview with USA Today Sports, Sappenfield was constantly targeting her personal life during training even after knowing that she was going through a rough mental patch. Owing to this, Kayne filed a complaint against Sappenfield to SafeSport.

These allegations led the US Centre for SafeSport to levy various restrictions on Dalilah Sappenfield in 2021. The restrictions also include a temporary ban on Sappenfield's permit to coach athletes without the supervision of any other adult.

After Sappenfield's permanent ban on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of SafeSport, Ju'Riese Colon, opened up about the need for this sort of measure to maintain the peaceful conduct of the sport. In an interview with USA Today, Colon stated:

"Culture change is happening. Actions that were once tolerated or ignored are no longer accepted, and accountability is taking root."

She further added:

"That’s progress but creating long-term culture change requires steadfast commitment by everyone in the sport community to fostering safe environments for athletes to fulfill their potential. Those who cling to toxic tactics will be left behind and on the wrong side of history."

Even though Dalilah Sappenfield has the right to challenge the decision of SafeSport to higher judicial bodies, there have been no such reports regarding this till now.

Dalilah Sappenfield's misconduct goes beyond verbal abuse

Dalilah Sappenfield's actions towards Tarah Kayne were indeed one of the major reasons for her downfall. Kayne showed exemplary courage to come forward to the public and share the ill-treatment that she experienced from her former skating coach.

However, this wasn't the only incident that shaped Sappenfield's long list of ill actions. According to USA Today, Mitch Moyer, one of the former senior directors of US Figure Skating, found a 16-year-old Russian skater from Sappenfield's house in 2020. Besides, two other male skaters were also found in Sappenfield's other house in Colorado.

This incident was a direct violation of the USFS Code Of Conduct which prevents any of its coaches from accommodating a minor skater in their house.