Gymnastics Team Coach Charged With Multiple Sex Offenses Against Minors

Israeli prosecutors filed an indictment in the Tel Aviv District Court against Yevgeny Yordanov, 51, from Kiryat Ono, a coach on the national artistic gymnastics team. The State Attorney’s Office says the charges involve multiple sex offenses committed while he was responsible for two complainants who were under 16 and training under his supervision.

According to the indictment, submitted by attorney Nitzan Friedman of the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office, Yordanov coached the girls with his wife on the gymnastics team. In the relevant period, complainant A.A. traveled alone with the team to training camps and competitions abroad, while under Yordanov’s full responsibility.

The indictment says that between 2016 and 2020, in different incidents in Israel and abroad, he exploited his authority as their coach. Prosecutors allege he committed indecent acts against both girls, including touching intimate parts of their bodies without consent.

He is also accused of raping A.A., invading her privacy, and extorting her by threats if she reported what happened. The charges include multiple sex offenses, indecent acts, rape, attempted indecent act in aggravated circumstances, privacy violations, and extortion by threats.