Keeping Track of Criminal Cases & SafeSport Suspensions in Skating

[jmtfti]

Former Canadian ice dancer and coach Marc-Andre Servant posted an Instagram story yesterday thanking Doherty for speaking out and rhetorically asking if this meant "getting weighed weekly wasn't a normal thing...? Being told you're fat or have a stupid haircut...not normal?"

 

[purple skates]

Apparently the charges against Steven Pottenger have been dropped. I’ve been periodically following the trial schedule, and it’s been delayed multiple times. Trial was supposed to be next week.

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[Aussie Willy]

I agree with everything in this post, except the last paragraph. The problem with getting skaters to talk about it is that it leaves them vulnerable to retribution, or even law suits from their abusers. Their livelihoods and careers are at stake, so the lesser lights will fight the allegations, and not just because they're in denial they did something wrong. And if the coach is successful enough, nothing will be done about anything they do.

Eteri Tutberidze is a prime example - her skaters are injured and gone before they're 20, and she's slagged and bullied her teenage skaters on social media when they leave her. Or how about Nickolai Morosov? He married his latest wife shortly after her 18th birthday. He was 40. Parents continued to hand their daughters over to Bob Young to coach, even after accusations against him became public.

I don't expect skaters to talk about this stuff while they're competing. That's asking far too much of them. I'm not suggesting that we sweep stuff under the carpet either, but I really don't have any answers on this.

The most vulnerable group are the competitive skaters. Cultural change has to come from somewhere. There are skaters, particularly the older ones in their 20s and 30s who have been around for a few years, who are outspoken about many issues. They may have never had an issue themself and their sport has been a positive experience. But surely they would have it in their bandwidth to just say abuse is not accepted and outline the process if someone did have a problem. They don't have to be specific. But they are the direct role models for most people in the sport.

Just to add - by having skaters who have had positive experiences, it educates skaters what positive healthy environments look like. And helps creates a cultural understanding of what to look for in a coaching experience or rink environment. Kind of helps promote a gold standard template.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Lori Ward is starting a new video interview series Broken Ice: On the Right Edge that will be freely accessible to everyone thanks to a generous supporter.

Introducing Broken Ice: On The Right Edge

New video interview series featuring in-depth conversations with athletes, coaches, researchers, and advocates inspiring positive change in figure skating and elite sport.

brokenice.substack.com

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Saw this shared online elsewhere but don’t think I saw it appear here yet, so sharing for those who avoid/don’t use X etc:

Lori Ward (@LoriRWard) on X

U.S. ice dancer Ivan Desyatov’s status in the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Database has changed from Permanent Ineligibility to Suspension for sexual misconduct. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has not responded to requests for clarification about when and why the status was

x.com

Lori Ward reports that Ivan Desyatov’s status in the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Database has changed from Permanent Ineligibility to Suspension for sexual misconduct. No response has been received yet on why the change was made.

 

[overedge]

Sorry if this has been posted already, but in April Richard Gauthier's conviction for sexual assault and gross indecency was overturned on appeal.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/court-of-appeal-overturns-verdict-9.7169318

Skate Canada has changed his status from "expelled" to "interim suspension" as of May. https://members.skatecanada.ca/en-US/suspended-en.pdf

 

[purple skates]

This gifted link is only good for seven days: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbo...tml?gift=367b9fc3-2b20-49c9-84eb-ddb7d6d2454c

Relevant parts:

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office dropped the case against Steven Pottenger on June 29, the day he was set to go to trial on two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual misconduct involving someone at least 13 and younger than 16, court records show.

The prosecutor’s office dropped the charge after further investigation showed there wasn’t enough evidence to complete a trial, according to Victoria Burton-Harris, chief assistant prosecutor with the prosecutor’s office. Pottenger had waived his preliminary examination in November.

“This case simply made no sense,” said William Amadeo, Pottenger’s Ann Arbor-based attorney. Pottenger was never alone with his alleged victim and there were cameras at the rink, Amadeo said.

@Sylvia, you saw something on SafeSport?

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks for the gifted article link @purple skates - excerpted from the end:

The U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit associated with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, issued a temporary suspension to Pottenger in July 2024, citing allegations of misconduct. He was later listed ineligible to coach. Ineligibility can be rescinded upon the conclusion of criminal proceedings, according to the SafeSport website.
He was again listed as temporarily suspended as of July 22, 2026, with additional requirements of no contact. It is not clear exactly whom he is prevented from contacting.
SafeSport investigations differ from criminal investigations, which require evidence to outweigh a “reasonable doubt.” Instead, SafeSport require a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning it is more likely than not, according to the organization’s code.
SafeSport does not comment on individual cases, a representative told MLive.
Pottenger previously professed his innocence and declined to take plea deals, Amadeo said.
“The average person, whether they were guilty or not, would have taken some of the deals that were made,” Amadeo said. “Steven was not only protecting his innocence, but he was trying to protect his career.”

He was added to the SafeSport database 2 days ago:

Steven Pottenger

Dexter

MI

U.S. Figure Skating

Allegations of Misconduct

Temporary Suspension

No Contact Directive(s)

07/21/2026

U.S. Center for SafeSport

 

[purple skates]

Does this mean that SafeSport will be doing its own investigation?

 

[Aceon6]

Does this mean that SafeSport will be doing its own investigation?

I interpret this to mean that the behavior wasn’t able to be prosecuted, but still violates the USFS code of conduct.

 

[skategal]

I interpret this to mean that the behavior wasn’t able to be prosecuted, but still violates the USFS code of conduct.

Yes for example, they may have evidence of misconduct (harassment, maltreatment, etc) not prosecutable in court.

 

[Sylvia]

Lori Ward's conversation with Bill Fauver (July 22, 2026):

On The Right Edge with Bill Fauver

Bill Fauver is a two-time Olympian and long time skating coach trying to shift the conversation from reacting to preventing harm in sport.

brokenice.substack.com

As a former U.S. pair skater, two-time Olympian with Alice Cook and Lea Ann Miller, and coach, Fauver says he’s seen figure skating at both its best and its worst.
At a time when headlines continue to expose coaches accused of abuse and assault, he’s trying to shift the conversation from reacting to preventing harm. In this conversation, Fauver reflects on how coaching culture has changed, why he believes current SafeSport systems fall short, and why he created CoachFax, a new screening platform designed to help families identify coaches who meet a higher standard of trust and accountability—all in an effort to help protect the sport he loves.

 

[Aussie Willy]

On Olivia Smart's latest podcast she addresses the issue of bullying in the sport, particularly in regards to social media. This is part of what her and Kevin Aymoz discussed that the ISU Congress. This never got shown on the livestream (I think for personal reasons). But she said they got the chance to talk about the issues to all the federation members who are the people that can institute cultural change. She also said that in future she may consider running for the Athletes Commission.

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I know people will be cynical about it but I think this is a good thing.

 

[Aceon6]

She also said that in future she may consider running for the Athletes Commission.

Assuming she hasn’t burnt any bridges, I think she’d be likely to get a seat should she want one.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Assuming she hasn’t burnt ant bridges, I think she’d be likely to get a seat should she want one.

Having been following her over the last 12 months I have noticed she is very careful what she puts out. She will talk in generalities rather than specifics. Even with the dance event at the Olympics, she was very non-specific about the details except to say there was a lot of drama, that it is a close community and didn't even give an opinion on the results. So she would probably be an effective representative for the athletes.

 

[overedge]

Sorenson is back on Skate Canada's list of suspensions, listed as a coach in Quebec, with an indefinite temporary suspension as of August 7.

https://members.skatecanada.ca/en-US/suspended-en.pdf

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Sorenson is back on Skate Canada's list of suspensions, listed as a coach in Quebec, with an indefinite temporary suspension as of August 7.

https://members.skatecanada.ca/en-US/suspended-en.pdf

Good.

 

[BittyBug]

AnythingGOEs is reporting that Julia Sebestyén has been charged with three counts of endangering a minor.

Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) on X

🇭🇺 Coach Júlia Gór-Sebestyén has been charged with three counts of endangering a minor. The prosecutor’s office proposed a suspended sentence and prohibition from working with minors for a fixed period of time. https://t.co/rUX5uwup0y

x.com

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ @Tamas posted about an unnamed coach being formally charged in the Hungarian fed. news thread 2 days ago: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...federation-news-articles.110708/#post-6945471

 

[Sylvia]

The 3 most recent Figure Skating listings in the SafeSport database:

Steven Culp	Norristown	PA	U.S. Figure Skating	Allegations of Misconduct	Temporary Suspension		08/13/2026	U.S. Center for SafeSport
Michael "Mike" Bulanda	New Boston	MI	U.S. Figure Skating	Criminal Disposition - involving a minor; Criminal Disposition - Sexual Misconduct	Ineligible		04/17/2026	U.S. Center for SafeSport
Benjamin "Ben" Shroats	McKinney	TX	U.S. Figure Skating	Criminal Disposition - involving a minor; Criminal Disposition - Sexual Misconduct	Ineligible		03/19/2026	U.S. Center for SafeSport

Re. Bulanda on June 18, 2026: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/new-boston-man-pleads-guilty-attempting-blackmail-child

Re. Shroats on August 3, 2026 - CBS News in Texas reported that he was indicted by a grand jury: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/collin-county-figure-skating-coach-indicted/

 

[SakuraHere]

Sorensen is again on Skate Canada list, as "Interim Suspension" and as a coach, not an athlete. iAM lawyers must be looking for new loopholes to get him of the hook.

https://members.skatecanada.ca/en-US/suspended-en.pdf

 

[overedge]

Sorensen is again on Skate Canada list, as "Interim Suspension" and as a coach, not an athlete. iAM lawyers must be looking for new loopholes to get him of the hook.

https://members.skatecanada.ca/en-US/suspended-en.pdf

Posted earlier in the thread.

 

[overedge]

According to this story, Ben Shroats used to be one of Amber Glenn's coaches. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...amber-glenn-charged-sexual-assault-rcna259773

ETA: and according to a post on Reddit the club president quoted in the story is Steven Pottenger's mom.

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ @Rukia mentioned this fact in this thread back in February when the news first broke - Amber won the 2014 U.S. Junior title while being coached by him and Ann Brumbaugh. She had changed coaches by early 2016 to the Cains.

 

[Sylvia]

Steven Pottenger

Dexter

MI

U.S. Figure Skating

Allegations of Misconduct

Temporary Suspension

No Contact Directive(s)

07/21/2026

U.S. Center for SafeSport

Does this mean that SafeSport will be doing its own investigation?

Pottenger's name has since been removed from the SafeSport database.

New addition since I last posted: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/centralized-disciplinary-database/

Dustin Flowers

Findlay

OH

U.S. Figure Skating

Allegations of Misconduct

Temporary Suspension

08/14/2026

U.S. Center for SafeSport