Six USA Swimming members were either added or had their status updated in the U.S. Center for SafeSport Disciplinary Database over the last few months, while four were handed suspensions by USA Swimming during the same time period.
On Sept. 26, Ryan Carroll of Yuma, Ariz., who was initially added to the database last year, was suspended for six years by both USA Swimming and SafeSport for “Intimate Relationship – involving a minor; Sexual Misconduct – involving a minor; Violated NGB policies/bylaws.”
Carroll is the former pool manager and head coach of the Yuma Heat Swim Club, though he hasn’t been listed on the club’s website for the last year.
On August 18, Jason Owen of Missouri was suspended for one year by USA Swimming for “other misconduct,” specifically 304.3.8 in USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct: “The abuse of alcohol in the presence of an athlete under the age of eighteen (18), by a coach, official, trainer, or a person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over that athlete.”
Owen previously served as the head coach of Division II Lindenwood University, which cut its swimming & diving program after the 2023-24 season. In June 2024, he was announced as the new head senior coach of the Flyers Aquatic Swim Team (FAST) in Sappington, Mo. In light of the suspension, he is currently not listed as a staff member on the club’s website.
Casselberry, Fla., native David Nesper was given an interim suspension by USA Swimming on Oct. 7, listed under allegations of misconduct, and then on Nov. 13, he was listed as ineligible in the SafeSport database.
His SafeSport listing reads: “(Subject to appeal / not yet final); Criminal Disposition – Sexual Misconduct; Criminal Disposition – involving a minor.”
Nesper is a certified official with USA Swimming and the Florida Swimming LSC.
Dzenan Kapetanovic of Los Angeles was given a temporary suspension by both SafeSport and USA Swimming on Oct. 16 for allegations of misconduct.
Kapetanovic, a former age group coach at Westside Aquatics in Pacific Palisades, Calif., is a named defendant, along with with the USA Swimming Foundation, Southern California Swimming Inc., and Westside Aquatics in a case filed by Jane Doe in California Superior Court on Oct. 25. The claims include “Employment Claims, Negligent Hiring, Personal Injury Claims, and Sexual Harassment,” accordign to law.com.
On August 1, Joseph “Tony” Ciaravino, who was given a temporary no-contact directive due to allegations of misconduct in 2024, was given permanent ineligibility from SafeSport and a permanent ban from USA Swimming for “Criminal Disposition; Intimate Relationship – involving a Power Imbalance; Physical & Emotional Misconduct; Proactive Policy Violation – Ethical Standards.” Ciaravino is the former pool manager and head coach of the summer league team at Norwood Hills Country Club.
Nathan Weddle of Raleigh, N.C., who was banned by SafeSport in January 2018 after pleading guilty to engaging in a sexual act with a child between 12 and 15, had his SafeSport status updated to a temporary suspension under “allegations of misconduct” on Nov. 5. Weddle is listed as permanenly ineligible by USA Swimming under “Criminal Disposition – Involving a Minor.”
Weddle previously coached the Capital Area Swim Team in Raleigh.
Gregory Glish of Louisville, Ky., was also added to the SafeSport database on Oct. 30 under allegations of misconduct, specifically given the following temporary restrictions: “No Unsupervised Coaching / Training, Contact / Communication Limitation(s), No Contact Directive(s).”
Other recent updates in terms of suspensions already reported on include Phoenix Swimming’s Matt Williams receiving a three-year suspension from USA Swimming for fraud in November, while former Kentucky head coach Lars Jorgensen was banned for life by SafeSport in October.
Matt Williams needs to be investigated and suspended for SafeSports violations for his mental and physical abuse towards his athletes that has been going on for years.
You hear a lot about Safesports complaints in swimming. Is this usual in other sports? Or is swimming just a very pedophilic sport?
The US Center for SafeSport database has 219 entries for “swimming”. Many of the big sports I checked had 100-120. Hockey (excluding field hockey) has 254, and gymnastics with 302 were the highest.
Does anyone know what’s going on with Weddle? Usually that change of status would mean someone’s conviction was overturned and they appealed the SafeSport ban (allowed if charges are dropped or a conviction is vacated; at that point, the Center opens an investigation rather than relying on the criminal charges/conviction), but I checked court records and it doesn’t appear his conviction was successfully appealed. I’m curious from an administrative/procedural perspective – I can’t think of what could cause that change of status.
Teams need to do a better job! How is this still so prominent?
Coaches who are truly emotionally abusive get away with it because they bully athletes, parents, and other coaches into submission. Anybody who witnesses abuse, or is the target, knows that if they speak up, they will be slandered and likely blackballed. Even if they walk away and don’t say anything, they may still get slandered as a preemptive measure by the offender. When team members witness the slandering of those who speak up, they become even more fearful and the cycle continues.
Allllllll facts. Living it right now after calling out abuse at our old club. But I’d do it again.
Get bad actors out of our sport!
Why are there so many pedophiles in this sport wtf
Long?
I tell you secret; they are in all sports but swimming is taking things seriously.
They only take it seriously if there’s a potential lawsuit. Way too many other real abuse cases getting tossed out in swimming.
You’re a hack. Coming on a swim website to spew your political hate. Get lost.
Swim MAGAot successfully triggered, mission accomplished!
Shout out to the weirdo who downvoted this
Nothing to do with it.. TDS is real