The US Center for SafeSport announcement comes less than two weeks after former US skater Adam Schmidt filed a lawsuit against Callaghan in San Diego, claiming that he was repeatedly sexually abused by the coach between 1999 and 2001, when Schmidt was just 14.

Callaghan, who coached US star Tara Lipinski to figure skating gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, can appeal the sexual misconduct violation.

He was first suspended in March 2018 pending an investigation into allegations made against him more than 20 years ago.

Schmidt's lawsuit also names US Figure Skating (USFS) and Onyx Ice Arena in Detroit, where Callaghan taught Schmidt.

The alleged sexual abuse occurred in the wake of the federation dismissing complaints of sexual misconduct against Callaghan by Craig Maurizi in 1999.

Maurizi told USA Today in March 2018 that Callaghan had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with him in 1976 - when he was 13 - and alleges he later initiated a sexual relationship with him when he turned 18.

Maurizi claimed the relationship continued until he was 22 but that Callaghan sporadically engaged in further inappropriate sexual conduct for a further 12 years.

The allegations were filed to the US Center for SafeSport in January 2018 and Callaghan was suspended two months later by SafeSport and USFS.

Callaghan has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Speaking with USA Today, Schmidt's attorney, John Manly, criticised USFS for not acting sooner.

He said: "This should have been done in the 90s when USFS first knew."

"It's good news but small comfort to those Callaghan hurt. 

"Clearly this move is in response to the horrible press USFS received in response to Adam Schmidt's filing. 

"You shouldn't have to file a lawsuit to protect kids from child molesters in Olympic sports.”