Alabama gymnast Caitlin Sullivan suspended from Gym Tide team

October 24, 7:04 PMGymnastics ExaminerBlythe Lawrence

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University of Alabama sophomore Caitlin Sullivan has been suspended from the Alabama team until further notice, UA coach Sarah Patterson said in a short statement released today.

"We hope that Caitlin will use this time to focus on her academic and personal development," Patterson said, according to The Tuscaloosa News.

Sullivan, from Elkhart, Ind., was part of the Alabama team that placed second at the 2009 NCAA Championships. She didn't arrive on at Alabama until December 2008, having graduated from high school early to join the Gym Tide squad. 

She competed beam and floor for the Gym Tide last season, scoring highs of 9.9 and 9.875, respectively.

She was also the 2002 Junior Olympic (J.O.) National Champion in the all-around and dabbled in pole vaulting in high school.

Suspensions like this are relatively rare in NCAA gymnastics. The news about Sullivan comes on top of last week's story about University of Florida star Melanie Sinclair, who was arrested after stolen goods were discovered in a safe in her apartment. Sinclair has been suspended indefinitely from the UF team.

Caitlin Sullivan, 2009 Alabama vs. Georgia, Beam: