1:02 pm | November 5, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
The U.S. Olympic Committee is moving to revoke USA Gymnastics’ status as the governing body for the sport at the Olympic level, meting out the nuclear option to an organization that has botched its own reorganization in the wake of a sex-abuse scandal involving former team doctor Larry Nassar.
A former Olympic gymnast and her sister, who also competed on the national team, claim in lawsuits that USA Gymnastics enabled and failed to prevent sexual abuse by the team’s former doctor, Larry Nassar.
USA Gymnastics owes it to survivors, athletes and the public to be open and honest about its next search for a new CEO, espnW’s D’Arcy Maine writes.
Former congresswoman Mary Bono announced Tuesday that she has resigned as interim president and CEO of USA Gymnastics after a tenure of four days.
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In an open letter to the gymnastics community Monday, USOC CEO Sarah Hirshland said “you deserve better,” and that the challenges facing USA Gymnastics are more than it is capable of overcoming as currently constructed.
Under its bylaws, the USOC has the power to review all matters related to the continued recognition of any national governing body.
The move comes just weeks after USA Gymnastics interim CEO Mary Bono stepped down four days into the post. Bono’s selection had been immediately criticized by several high-profile gymnasts, including Olympic gold-medal winners Simone Biles and Aly Raisman. Raisman questioned Bono’s association with law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, which advised USA Gymnastics during the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.
USA Gymnastics’ Board of Directors released a statement shortly after the USOC’s announcement, saying, “We want you to know, we will continue to serve the thousands of young athletes, coaches, club owners, judges and administrators who make up our organization. Our commitment will always be to ensure the health and safety of our members while they pursue their love of the sport. We know this continues to be a difficult time for our organization, and we are so appreciative of all that you do to support our gymnastics community.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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