21. February 2003  
Deva/Romania  
Artistic Gymnastics

Romanian Star coaches Belu and Bitang attempted to resign this week...

Octavian Belu (ROM)

The Romanian newspaper Evenimentul Zilei pronounced today, that the both star coaches of the women's team champion Romania, Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang retired, yesterday and want to cancel their contracts with the Romanian Gymnastics Federation...but the Federation declined to accept any resignation from Belu and Bitang, who have an employment contract with the Romanian Olympic Committee through the 2004 Olympic Games...
Rumanian Startrainers Belu and Bitang give notice
Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang, star trainers and coordinators of the Rumanian National Women's Team gave their notice yesterday. The reason given was anger over the accusations of several women gymnasts. Both of the famous Rumanian trainers - who have achieved 10 titles in the last 20 years in World Championships, Olympic games and European Championships - have been accused by a number of women gymnasts of gross mistreatment and of having embezzled money. Belu and Bitang left the Olympic base in Deva yesterday and returned to Bucarest in order to personally turn in their notice. 'I was fed up with coming to the gymnasium and looking upon the gymnasts as probable accusers. I believe that there is no way back,' said Bitang.
Octavian Belu shared this opinion as well.