Former Special Olympics and Cannonball coach James “JJ” Sabatino has been re-added to USA Swimming’s banned list after disappearing from the list last month.
Sabatino was originally added to the list back in January. His addition cited 7 sections of USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct, three dealing with sexual abuse and one with inappropriate touching. Sabatino’s ban was effective December 2, 2016.
But in February, his name was removed from the list. USA Swimming noted at the time that “the matter [was] still pending.”
Now, Sabatino’s name has been returned to the list, meaning he’ll be permanently ineligible to coach. Sabatino had been previously teaching swimming since 1999, regularly working with swimmers with special needs. From our previous reporting on the subject:
“Sabatino, who has worked with swimmers with special needs, was added to USA Swimming’s list of individuals permanently suspended or ineligible – also known as the organization’s “banned” list – back in December of 2016. Sabatino had been teaching swimming since at least 1999. Over his career, he started Cannonball Rockingham for swimmers with special needs and had coached for the Cannonball Swim Club in New Hampshire since 2010. He was a national-level Special Olympic coach representing the state of New Hampshire in 2006.”
USA Swimming confirmed that he’s back on the list but didn’t elaborate as to what happened. Other sources have told us that his initial removal had to do with whether or not Sabatino would appeal his addition, which he has now done.
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Well done. Now let’s move on.