USOC Silent on USA Gymnastics Situation

(ATR) The United States Olympic Committee faced a barrage of questions about measures it believes USA Gymnastics should take to move forward from an ongoing sexual abuse scandal.

However, the USOC would not disclose those measures, preferring to give the national governing body time to respond.

On a media conference call following the USOC’s quarterly board meeting chairman Larry Probst said the body "reached a consensus point of view" which it has communicated to USA Gymnastics. Probst said USA Gymnastics needs "time to consider" the point of view and the USOC "looks forward to a response from there in the appropriate time frame."

USA Today reported ahead of the board meeting that the USOC would call for the resignation of USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny. The USOC cannot fire Penny, but can use its power as the "stewards of the Olympic movement" in the United States to exert pressure.

In the report, members of the USA Gymnastics board spoke out in support of Penny, who has led the federation since 2005. Gold medal gymnast and USA Gymnastics board member Mary Lou Retton said in a statement, released by USA Gymnastics, that Penny "has strengthened USA Gymnastics policies and programs to further protect the health and well-being of athletes".

USA Gymnastics has been the subject of media investigations into the reporting practices of sexual abuse from team doctors and officials. Reporting from the Indianapolis Star revealed that USA Gymnastics waited to speak to the police for five weeks to conduct an internal review of team doctor Larry Nassar after allegations against him surfaced. The reporting showed that more than 360 gymnasts have made sexual abuse claims in the last 20 years.

Last month, a judge unsealed more than 54 sexual abuse complaints against USA Gymnastics from 1996 to 2006. A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress making it a crime for any national governing body to fail to immediately report acts of sexual abuse to the police.

After the conference call concluded, USA Gymnastics released a statement saying it "shares the USOC’s commitment to promoting a safe environment for all athletes".

"USA Gymnastics has initiated a comprehensive, thorough and independent examination of our requirements, mandates and procedures in this area and we expect this review will identify ways to strengthen our program and better protect youth," the statement said. "The USA Gymnastics Board of Directors will convene shortly and work to determine next steps."

USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun told reporters that there was no discussion in the board meeting about a scenario where USA Gymnastics disagrees with the consensus presented to them.

"Our hope is, they will be on the same page," said Blackmun.

Probst confirmed that there was no talk of potentially de-certifying the governing body, which is seen as a worst case scenario. De-certification, or threats of it, would not be an unprecedented action from the USOC, although it has only been done twice, previously with the governing bodies of handball and taekwondo.

"As I said earlier I think we had a very thoughtful discussion and we talked about process," Probst said. "We think [what was said] is the appropriate process to communicate our consensus viewpoint and give USA Gymnastics a chance to respond, and we expect that response in short order. If necessary we will reconvene our board to have further discussions."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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