State indicts gymnastics coach on sexual assault and extortion charges

The State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment on Sunday against gymnastics coach Yevgeny Yordanov, accusing him of sexual offenses against underage gymnasts under 16 whom he trained in artistic gymnastics. Yordanov, 51, from Kiryat Ono, is a well-known figure in the sport and was arrested in May after a 22-year-old gymnast complained that he had committed indecent acts against her for a decade, including abroad when she was a child during trips to competitions. She also said he abused a relative of hers.

According to the indictment, submitted to the Tel Aviv District Court by attorney Nitzan Friedman, Yordanov and his wife coached the gymnasts together. The complainant, identified as A.A., traveled with the team to training camps and competitions abroad when she was effectively under his full responsibility and alone.

The charge sheet says that between 2016 and 2020, on multiple occasions in Israel and outside it, Yordanov used his position and authority over the girls to rape A.A., violate her privacy, and extort her by threats if she reported him. It also alleges that he committed indecent acts against both complainants, including touching parts of their bodies without consent.

He faces multiple counts of rape, indecent assault, attempted indecent assault in aggravated circumstances, invasion of privacy, and extortion by threats, all committed while the victims were minors under 16. Last week, the court rejected his appeal against publication of his name, finding the public interest outweighed his claimed harm and noting that identifying him could encourage other victims to come forward. During the proceedings, it also emerged that his wife was questioned under caution on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, after claims that she knew about the acts and allegedly helped conceal them, though the case against her is weaker.