In May 2024, Sappenfield was permanently banned by the United States Center for SafeSport for physical and emotional misconduct, retaliation, abuse of process, and failure to report a potential SafeSport violation.[3]
Early life
Sappenfield was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban parents.[4] She was the fifth of 10 children.[4][5] She described it as "a strict, Hispanic family" with "a lot of discipline."[4]
Allegations of abuse; permanent suspension by SafeSport
On October 8, 2021, USA Today published an exposé in which former pairs skater Tarah Kayne detailed emotional and psychological abuse she alleged she suffered while being coached by Sappenfield. Kayne ultimately left Sappenfield with her skating partner, Danny O'Shea, in September 2020, before Kayne retired in December that same year. Kayne stated that Sappenfield's abuse prompted her to engage in self-harm behavior, and that she had been afraid to seek mental health treatment out of concern that Sappenfield would find out. She said, "These awful experiences forced me out of the sport I love. Dalilah said multiple times that she wanted to end my career, and she succeeded." O'Shea expressed his support for Kayne on social media. Kayne was one of several skaters to file complaints against Sappenfield with the United States Center for SafeSport, leading to Sappenfield's initial suspension pending further investigation.[15]
In 2021, Sappenfield was banned temporarily by SafeSport from contacting a dozen figure skaters and from coaching athletes without another adult around, during an investigation by Safesport into misconduct allegations against her.[16]
On May 29, 2024, Sappenfield was permanently banned for "physical and emotional misconduct," retaliation, abuse of process, and failure to report a potential SafeSport violation.[17][3]