US abuse crisis deepens

Three former elite US gymnasts, including 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzcher, have come forward saying they were sexually abused by a former doctor currently facing trial on a separate matter.

Dantzscher, three-time US rhythmic gymnastics champion Jessica Howard and former national team member Jeanette Antolin appeared on 60 Minutes yesterday, detailing what they have claimed is sexual abuse by Dr Larry Nassar.

All three accused Nassar, a volunteer team doctor for USA Gymnastics for almost three decades before his tenure ended in July 2015 of touching them inappropriately while he disguised the abuse as treatment.

Dantzscher, who helped the US team earn a team bronze at the 2000 Olympics, filed a lawsuit against Nassar in California last September as ‘‘Jane Doe’’. She gave up her anonymity for 60 Minutes and described how she was sent to visit Nassar to receive treatment for lower back pain.

‘‘He would put his fingers inside of me, move my leg around,’’ Dantzscher said. ‘‘He would tell me I was going to feel a pop and that that would put my hips back and help my back pain.’’

Dantzscher said she saw Nassar for treatment regularly from her early teens until the Olympics, when she was 18. Dantzscher said typically she saw Nassar alone, which is in violation of USA Gymnastics policy.

USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny and others have been named as a co-defendant in Dantzscher’s civil suit. The suit says the organisation negligently suppressed, concealed or failed to disclose knowledge that Nassar had engaged in sexual conduct with team members. Nassar’s attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by the doctor.

USA Gymnastics fired Nassar two years ago.

Nassar has pleaded not guilty.