Gymnastics Coach Indicted for Rape and Sexual Abuse of Two Sisters

An indictment was filed on Sunday against Evgeny Yordanov, 51, of Kiryat Ono, accusing him of serious sexual offenses against trainees while he served as a gymnastics coach for the Petah Tikva municipal team. The charges include rape, indecent acts, blackmail by threats, and incitement of a minor.

According to the indictment, Yordanov committed the alleged offenses against two sisters who trained with him between 2017 and 2020, when they were minors. The prosecution says he repeatedly intoxicated them, and in one incident allegedly threatened one of them with a knife in order to carry out an indecent act.

Police said the sisters complained that he had harmed them since they were 11 years old, leading to his arrest. In one of the most serious episodes, investigators say he allegedly used the knife threat to force sexual acts. The State Attorney’s Office has asked that he remain detained until the end of legal proceedings.

Kan News reported that Yordanov denied the allegations and claimed they were an attempt to damage him commercially. “These things never happened,” he told police. “They come from a problematic background and want to bring down our business before the competition season. I gave them everything and they want to ruin my life.” Police said investigators are in a difficult position because the alleged offenses took place abroad and several years ago, and they hope publishing his name will lead additional complainants to come forward.