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Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast Alex Naddour of Queen Creek has been cleared of a sexual misconduct allegation by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Naddour, 27, has been removed from the USA Gymnastics suspended list that he was placed on June 20 pending a hearing with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, created in 2012 to improve athlete safety for Olympic sport athletes. It has jurisdiction to investigate and resolve alleged violations involving sexual misconduct.

“I wanted everyone to know that the US Center for SafeSport completed its investigation and I have been reinstated to coach and compete through both the Center and USAG,” Naddour posted Sunday via social media. “Out of respect to all parties involved, I will have no further comment on the matter.”

Mike Naddour, Alex’s father and coach, confirmed that Alex has been cleared Sunday and said he is working through national-team issues with USA Gymnastics before commenting further.

The SafeSport decision to clear Alex Naddour was made Nov. 13, Mike Naddour said, and he was removed from the USA Gymnastics suspended list on Nov. 14. 

“It’s a huge relief,” Mike Naddour said. “It’s taken forever to get there.”

Alex Naddour is “planning on coming back and training and see where it takes him,” his father said. He could try to qualify for the 2020 Olympic as an event specialist on pommel horse and rings. 

The U.S. Olympic Committee is attempting to revoke USA Gymnastics’ status as the National Governing Body for the sport, an extreme step in the American Olympic movement. A three-member panel will be selected to hear the USOC complaint against USA Gymnastics. 

Naddour is the second Phoenix area gymnastics clearing this year by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Dan Witenstein, owner of Arizona Sunrays, was cleared July 21 of a misconduct allegation that also landed him on the USA Gymnastics suspended list.

Naddour won a bronze medal in pommel horse at the Rio Olympics and was an Olympic alternate in 2012. He is a five-time U.S. pommel horse champion and has been on five U.S. World Championships teams, twice earning a team bronze medal.

He is married to former gymnast Hollie Vise, who in June gave birth to their second child.

Growing up in metro Phoenix, Naddour trained with his father at USA Youth Fitness Center, now located in Gilbert and Queen Creek. Alex returned to train with Mike after competing in college at Oklahoma leading into the 2012 Olympics. 

READ MORE

  • USA Gymnastics places Olympic medalist Alex Naddour on suspended list
  • In wake of USA Gymnastics’ sexual-abuse scandal, the reforms don’t go far enough
  • Arizona Sunrays: Suspension lifted for Phoenix gymnastics centers’ owner

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