Moceanu Denied Right to Compete (20th August, 2006)

Dominique Moceanu was a spectator at the USA Gymnastics National Championships this week, after losing her appeal to USA’s grievance panel in a 2-1 vote to allow her to compete.

After bouncing back from surgery for Achilles tendonosis, participation at this year’s Team USA Training Camp and a crowd-pleasing performance at US Classic last month, Moceanu was hoping to compete at Nationals.

‘The bottom line is that I simply wanted to be given a chance to compete,’ said Moceanu. ‘My coach Michael Canales and I had been notified that two specific criteria needed to be achieved to enable me to compete at Nationals – to attend a National Team Training Camp and to compete at the U.S. Classic meet on at least one event. I completed both of these criteria.’

Moceanu contends that despite complying with the requirements provided, she was nonetheless denied the right to compete at Nationals by the panel.

‘I was not seeking any special favours,’ she added. ‘I just requested what I believe I rightfully earned — a chance to compete fairly at Nationals. It's disappointing, but I am grateful to all of my fans and friends who have supported me with words of encouragement. I’m feeling strong and doing really well. I’ll be back.’

Future public appearances for Moceanu include her participation in the Hilton Gymnastics/Ice Skating Show taping on October 28th in Portland for later national broadcast by NBC.

An audio recording of Moceanu’s and Canales’ actual verbal presentations before the USAG Grievance Committee is available as an MP3 file on Moceanu’s website - www.dominique-moceanu.com