Months into his ongoing investigation into the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Sports Writer Eddie Pells uncovered a critical new development: Sean Gardner — a gymnastics coach later arrested on child pornography charges — had been prepared to accept a lifetime ban in a deal where he would admit to abuse allegations. But internal dysfunction within SafeSport prevented the center from finalizing that sanction.
The story, edited by Mary Sedor, was built on exclusive reporting from sources who approached Pells after his previous coverage of the Olympic sports safety watchdog. Working closely with AP’s standards and legal teams, Pells and Sedor ensured the story met the highest bar of reporting on a complex and sensitive topic.
The final package not only exposed another troubling episode inside SafeSport but also included a takeaways piece that distilled key revelations for readers, continuing AP’s watchdog reporting on the center’s repeated failures to protect young athletes.
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