Former USA Swimming coach Michael Pliuskaitis has become the first coach since USA Swimming’s list of Individuals Permanently Suspended or Ineligible was made public in 2010 to have been removed from that list.
Pliuskaitis was originally banned for various violations of USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct that were generally focused around inappropriate sexual contact. See more about the specific rules cited here.
But Pliuskaitis, a former coach of SNOW Swimming in Virginia, among other teams, has been removed from the banned list after an independent arbitration hearing. USA Swimming released the following statement on his ruling:
While USA Swimming does not agree with the arbitrator’s decision in the case of Pliuskaitis v. USA Swimming, we respect the ruling of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). Mike Pliuskaitis’ name has been removed from USA Swimming’s public list of Individuals Permanently Suspended or Ineligible for membership.
USA Swimming stands by its Code of Conduct and Athlete Protection Policies and is deeply committed to the safety and welfare of all its members. It is the mission of the Safe Sport Program to increase awareness to reduce the risk for abuse in sport and our organization has no tolerance for violations of our Code of Conduct.
A USA swimming spokesperson clarified in response to our question that this means that Pliuskaitis is “no longer banned and is currently eligible for membership.”
SwimSwam’s Ceci Christy is currently working on tracking down statements from Pliuskaitis’ legal representation, as well as the arbitration decision to gather more information about why the arbitrator overturned the ban.
Yeah right – USA Swimming may have no tolerance for violation of SOME of their Code of Conduct sections, but other areas are completely ignored. Even the Veith report touched on areas that are ignored. Perhaps the spokesperson for USA Swimming really has no idea of what actually goes on.