Romania’s federation hopes for Belu’s return

Adrian Stoica (ROM)

Romania's gymnastics federation won't hire another head coach to replace Octavian Belu amid hopes he'll return, officials said.
“We'll keep the head coach position vacant until Belu solves his problems,'' said Adrian Stoica, the federation's secretary general.
Belu and his assistant, Mariana Bitang, resigned one week ago....

Octavian Belu,

.... blaming media criticism of their training methods and private lives. They are also being sued by a former gymnast, who alleges she suffers from back problems due to their training methods.

Belu said he wanted to have his name cleared but has hinted that he might return.
Last Friday, several top gymnasts expressed their support for Belu.
Under Belu's command, Romania have dominated world gymnastics in recent years.
Stoica added that the federation also asked Bitang to continue working with the team and the federation is awaiting her response.
“It is a difficult moment ... we are trying to get back to normal,'' Stoica said.

Ponor and Rosu continue their training...
Two top gymnasts who threatened to quit the sport after Belu's resignation – triple-gold medallist at the Athens Olympics Catalina Ponor and double-gold medallist Monica Rosu – have decided to continue their careers and are training at the team base in Deva, Stoica said.

Belu has coached the team since 1981, taking over after famed coach Bela Karolyi defected to the United States.
He coached Romania to 272 medals – including 104 golds – in Olympic, world, European and other top competitions.
The embattled coach has been questioned by prosecutors over claims by former gymnast Oana Petrovschi that he took some of her winnings from exhibitions events.
Belu has acknowledged taking the money, saying that it was customary for coaches to earn a share gymnasts' winnings when they took part in exhibition events.
source: the star