Allegations of abuse – criticism of the gymnastics association continues

Janine Berger had no great illusions. “I went in with the expectation that it would take a very, very long time,” the former top gymnast said recently – and this has been confirmed: more than a year after the allegations of abuse emerged in German gymnastics, the process of coming to terms with them is still ongoing. And the criticism of the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) does not stop around the DTB Cup in Stuttgart.

“I actually only rely on the public prosecutor’s office,” said Berger in a recent interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, emphasizing her lack of trust in the association’s self-cleaning forces and adding: “Nothing will happen internally.” Other gymnasts are also disillusioned. “The hope for change and the conviction that what was set in motion made sense has almost disappeared, or at least has become very little,” Michelle Timm told SWR.

Berger and Timm are among the athletes who denounced abuses in German gymnastics in December 2024. Initially the focus was on the federal base in Stuttgart, later Mannheim was added; among other things, it was about the accusation of “systematic physical and mental abuse”.

As part of the international DTB Cup in Stuttgart, which is taking place until Sunday, the DTB points out to the SID “a package of measures that will help to deal with existing incidents and improve the protection of athletes in gymnastics”. The Rettenmaier law firm carried out a comprehensive data analysis and the association is also supporting the ongoing investigations by the Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office. In April 2025, the DTB put the Safe Sport Code into force, which is intended to create legally secure structures for dealing with interpersonal violence.

According to the association, the start of the investigation by an independent expert council “depends on the conclusion of the public prosecutor’s investigation”. The DTB expressed “understanding” for the impression of some of those affected that progress was slow. However, the investigation into the allegations must be “carried out carefully and responsibly”.