PHOENIX, Arizona, May 26. A former USA Swimming national team director is one of 46 people put on a list released Tuesday of those banned from membership in the organization.
The most notable name on the list is Everett Uchiyama, who held the position as head of the national team from 2002 to 2004 and was based at USA Swimming's headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Uchiyama is one of 36 people on the list cited for, according to USA Swimming's Code of Conduct, "any crime involving sexual misconduct" or "any sexual conduct, advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by (i) a coach member or other non-athlete member, or (ii) any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming (whether such adult is a member or not)."
Uchiyama joined USA Swimming in 1999 as national team coordinator. Before that, he was an age group coach in southern California.
As for the 10 others on the list, two were banned for fraud, deception or dishonesty; two for unspecified felonies; and another for illegal drugs or substances, all of which are cited as offenses subject to expulsion from membership in USA Swimming. The remaining five do not have Code of Conduct citations listed with their names.
The earliest banned member is Darek Hahn, who was suspended from USA Swimming on Dec. 5, 1991 for an unspecified reason. The most recent person added to the list is Jason Michael Lear, who was suspended on Jan. 15, 2010 for an unspecified felony, as well as "sexual conduct … directed toward an athlete" and "any other … act … not provided for above, which is detrimental to the image or reputation of USA Swimming, a LSC or the sport of swimming."
The public release of the banned persons list is the latest step USA Swimming has taken to ensure the safety of its athletes from sexual misconduct. In April, the organization announced a seven-point plan to install safeguards for the 30,000 members of the organization. This came shortly after a feature on the ABC newsmagazine show "20/20" reported on the sexual abuse issues within USA Swimming.
Click here to see the full list of banned persons.