Rhythmic gymnastic coaches face sporting trial in abuse case

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 4 - A top Italian rhythmic gymnastic coach and her Russian assistant face a sporting trial for alleged abuse of young athletes after being charged on Wednesday by prosecutors from the national gymnastics federation.
    Emanuela Maccarani, technical director of the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy of Desio near Monza, and Olga Tishina are accused of adopting "training methods not in compliance with the obligations of correctness and professionalism".
    The charge said these methods subjected the athletes to "psychological pressure" that provoked "eating and psychological disorders in some gymnasts".
    Maccarani and Tishina are also being probed in a criminal investigation that is still at a preliminary stage.
    Prosecutors in Brescia are investigating after the mother of two sisters who have left the sport filed a complaint over alleged psychological abuse the girls were subjected to by coaches in relation to their weight and physical appearance.
    Two former members of the national team, Nina Corradini and Anna Basta, last year told La Repubblica that they suffered humiliation and pressure in relation to their weight at the rhythmic gymnastics academy. (ANSA).