The U.S. Center for SafeSport has permanently banned U.S. Olympic pairs figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield for life, citing violations including physical and emotional misconduct, retaliation, abuse of process, and failure to report potential violations. This decision marks the culmination of a 2½-year investigation into allegations of her abusive behavior.
Sappenfield, who has been a prominent figure in U.S. pairs skating since 1993, faced multiple accusations; among the most serious allegations were those from 2016 U.S. pairs champion Tarah Kayne, who reported Sappenfield’s incessant verbal abuse, including sexual comments, which exacerbated her mental health struggles. Kayne says she cut her wrist with a razor blade in response to the abuse.
“She was constantly talking about sex, about who I was dating, about my sex life,” Kayne recounted. “It was completely inappropriate, but that’s what Dalilah does. She uses gossip from other skaters in the rink against you. She knew I was struggling with my mental health, but instead of helping me, she chose to make fun of me.” Kayne’s bravery in coming forward has been lauded by U.S. Figure Skating, which hopes her actions will encourage other survivors to report abuse.
In addition to Kayne’s testimony, other skaters also lodged complaints against Sappenfield. The initial response from SafeSport in 2021 included a temporary ban on Sappenfield from contacting certain skaters and a requirement for her to be supervised by another adult while coaching. Despite these measures, she continued to coach at high levels, including the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, under the imposed restrictions.
Further compounding Sappenfield’s controversial career, she was closely associated with John Coughlin, a two-time national pairs champion who died by suicide in 2019 following his own suspension due to allegations of sexual abuse.
The lifetime ban issued by SafeSport underscores a growing commitment within the sports community to foster safe environments for athletes. “Actions that were once tolerated or ignored are no longer accepted, and accountability is taking root,” stated SafeSport CEO Ju’Riese Colon.
Dalilah Sappenfield has the option to appeal her ban, but the evidence against her seems to be substantial. Her case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding athletes’ well-being and the ongoing efforts to eradicate abusive practices from sports.
