U.S. skeleton coach Tim Nardiello was fired by the sport's national federation for ignoring orders to stay away from the team during its final Olympic preparations.
Nardiello, who was denied a credential to coach at the Turino Games, is in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where the four sliders representing the United States are training. The letter of dismissal was e-mailed Friday.
"I'm very disappointed," Nardiello said Saturday.
Nardiello was suspended by the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation Dec. 31, accused of sexually harassing team members. He was reinstated 25 days later when an arbitrator found no credible evidence supporting those claims.
But the U.S. Olympic Committee, which conducted a separate inquiry, still refused to let him coach in Turino, citing other misconduct.
After his reinstatement, Nardiello asked permission to join the team in Europe and coach until the Turino Games open. The federation declined, but Nardiello went to Switzerland anyway.
"This action not only is in direct contravention of our instructions, it is in defiance of the USOC, and it constitutes clear insubordination," USBSF sports director Terry Kent told Nardiello in the e-mail.
The USOC declined comment, saying it was an internal issue between Nardiello and the USBSF.
Each U.S. skeleton Olympian — Zach Lund, Kevin Ellis, Eric Bernotas and Katie Uhlaender — has supported Nardiello and said they wanted him to coach.
Orvie Garrett was selected late last month by the USBSF as Nardiello's Olympic replacement.
The USOC has cited eight reasons for denying Nardiello a credential, including violations of rules banning sex between coaches and athletes. Nardiello dates Kelly Moffat, who competed for New Zealand during this past World Cup season.
Besides the U.S. team, Nardiello coached Moffat and three other international sliders.
His firing caps another stormy week for the program. The World Anti-Doping Agency said this week it is appealing Lund's Olympic eligibility, with a final decision expected by Thursday.
Lund was warned but not suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Jan. 23 after testing positive for finasteride, a hair-restoration drug banned for its steroid-masking properties. Lund said he had been using the drug for its intended purpose.
Skeleton athletes slide headfirst on a sled at more than 70 mph on the track used for bobsled and luge.