U.S. Olympics Officials Knew About Gymnasts’ Abuse in 2015
COMPLICIT
USOC executives were told an entire year before the allegations against Larry Nassar were made public—while he was still abusing his victims.
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid / Reuters
The U.S. Olympic Committee was informed about former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual-abuse allegations in 2015, a full year before the information became public, The Wall Street Journal reported early Thursday. The then-president of USA Gymnastics allegedly told at least two top USOC executives about the results of an internal investigation that found Nassar had engaged in criminal behavior against young female athletes. It is unclear why officials at USOC, which has publicly criticized USA Gymnastics for its handling of the situation, did not reach out to law enforcement between the July 2015 notification and the time that the allegations were made public—in September 2016. Nassar was allegedly abusing patients in Michigan during that year-long time period. His third sentencing hearing is in full swing this week, as more of his at least 250 accusers are lining up to give victim-impact statements. In August 2016, the U.S. women took home 12 gymnastics medals from the Rio Olympics, including the team gold. A township in Michigan has said it will publicly apologize to one of Nassar’s victims on Thursday, after she reported him in 2004 and officers did not believe her.
