National gymnast accuses coach of bonus misappropriation

Gymnast Pham Nhu Phuong at SEA Games 31 in Hanoi in 2022. Photo by Facebook/Pham Nhu Phuong

Phuong is a key member of the Vietnam national women's gymnastics team but she did not get called up in early 2024. Because of this, she decided to retire at the age of 20.

Phuong said when the call-up list was being finalized, she was taking a leave of absence to travel abroad and visit her friends. Phuong confirmed that she sent a leave application letter to the coach at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi, but this coach forgot to send it to the Sports Administration.

In addition, she also revealed that she had to pay that coach 10% of her bonus when winning a medal, 30% to 50% of other bonuses and an extra monthly fee which was not part of the regulations.

After the incident made headlines on Monday, the Sports Administration said they are coordinating with Vietnam Gymnastics Federation and National Sports Training Center in Hanoi to clarify the incident.

Hoang Quoc Vinh, head of High-Performance Sports Department I, said any violations will be handled according to regulations.

The Sports Administration said that the accusation of misappropriating of Phuong's bonus occurred at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi.

Bui Trung Thien, head of the gymnastics division at the national team yet said "there is no such incident."

Thien explained that he did not call Phuong up because he did not see her training with the team earlier this year.

"We can't call up an athlete that didn't train," Thien said. "It’s the National Sports Training Center’s responsibility to discipline Phuong."

Pham Nhu Phuong competes in SEA Games 31 in Hanoi in May 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Phuong came to prominence in 2018 when she won the Youth Olympic gold medal. At SEA Games 31 hosted in Vietnam, she won two silver and two bronze medals. The 20-year-old athlete is also popular on social media with nearly 800,000 followers.

Last year, Vietnamese sports also had a scandal when claims of "inadequate meals" for the national youth table tennis team (aged 13-17) went viral. The young athletes complained that despite the generous allowance the meals provided were inadequate, and they had to spend their own money to buy food outside or get their family to send food to ensure nutrition.

The athletes also said they had to pay a part of their allowance to head coach Bui Xuan Ha, who was later penalized and would not be allowed to work with any national youth team in the future.