GEF President Micheline Calmy-Rey spoke at a recent International Gymnastics Federation Council meeting ©Getty Images

More than half of the cases logged by the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) related to safeguarding issues, it has been confirmed.

GEF President Micheline Calmy-Rey told members of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Council about the work being carried out by the foundation during its first two full years of operation at a recent videoconference.

Since its establishment in January 2019, the GEF has registered 62 cases with 38 of those relating to safeguarding issues.

The GEF expects the number of cases to increase once it "becomes better known".

The foundation was set up following the sexual abuse scandal which rocked the sport in the US and saw former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar jailed for 175 years for abusing dozens of gymnasts under the guise of medical treatment.

Since the release of the Netflix documentary Athlete A last year, which examined the Nassar scandal and safeguarding shortcomings in American gymnastics, gymnasts in other countries have come forward to share their own traumatic experiences.

Britain's Amy Tinkler is among a number of gymnasts who have spoken out about abuse they have suffered ©Getty Images
Britain's Amy Tinkler is among a number of gymnasts who have spoken out about abuse they have suffered ©Getty Images

During the FIG Council meeting, the GEF provided an overview of the various independent reviews carried out in Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the US and Britain following numerous allegations of abuse in an effort to identify safeguarding issues.

As well as the GEF’s presentation, the FIG Council discussed changes made to the technical regulations, approved the revised code of discipline and rubber-stamped the organisation’s 2020 accounts and budgets for 2021.

The FIG Executive Committee has been entrusted by the Council to allocate the 2025 World Championships in artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics after it confirmed that no bids had been received from potential host nations.

The FIG said the Council was also informed that the Gymnastics Federation of Seychelles had been suspended for "default of financial obligations".

The Olympic qualification system for Paris 2024 was discussed by the Council after the International Olympic Committee reduced the number of quota places available from 324 at Tokyo 2020 to 318.

A new version of the qualification system is expected to be presented to the Council for approval and then submitted to the IOC, which will have the final say, but the FIG said the "general principles remain unchanged."