Former Brazil gymnastics coach accused of child abuse

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A former coach of Brazil's national gymnastics team has been accused by dozens of athletes of sexual abuse in the latest child molestation scandal to rock the sport.

Fernando de Carvalho Lopes allegedly watched children shower, touched them indecently and asked them to perform sexual acts, according to at least 40 of his victims.

The gymnasts and former gymnasts revealed the accusations to the Fantastico news program on TV Globo.

The Sao Paulo state security department confirmed police are investigating but declined to provide details for judicial reasons.

The Clube MESC community center near Sao Paulo said it fired Lopes after the program went to air on Sunday night. The former coach has not had contact with children since being placed on leave two years ago when accusations were first made, it said.

Lopes has denied the allegations.

Earlier this year, former US sports doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting scores of girls and women, including Olympic gymnasts, while he worked at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Enditem