USA Gymnastics’ status in jeopardy
The U.S. Olympic Committee took steps Monday to decertify USA Gymnastics as the governing body for the sport at the Olympic level, pursuing the nuclear option for an organization that botched its own rebuilding attempt in the wake of a sex-abuse scandal involving former team doctor
Larry Nassar.
In an open letter to the gymnastics community, 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.
The USOC itself also has faced criticism for not responding quickly and appropriately to sexabuse cases, and though the move was cheered by the gymnast whose own revelations helped propel Nassar’s years of abuse to the fore — “THANK YOU,” tweeted Rachel Denhollander
— others viewed it as a ploy to shift blame for the scandal.
Decertification could leave a void that cannot be easily filled. In addition to supporting elite and Olympic athletes, and selecting teams and coaches for international competitions, USA Gymnastics serves more than 150,000 athletes in 3,000 clubs around the country.
Sens players sorry for video
A group of seven players from the Senators apologized after a video surfaced showing them insulting the team and an assistant coach during an Uber ride. The video shows the players discussing their ineffective penalty kill and mocking assistant Martin Raymond in what appears to be a recording from a camera mounted on the dash of an Uber driver’s vehicle.
♦ The Cavaliers relented to Larry Drew’s requests by restructuring his contract and signing him to be their coach for the remainder of this season — and perhaps beyond — after firing Tyronn Lue on Oct. 28 following a 0-6 start.
♦ Embattled Florida State coach Willie Taggart turned over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Walt Bell for the 4-5 Seminoles’ game against No. 4 Notre Dame (9-0) on Saturday.
♦ Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending ATP Finals because of an abdominal injury and had surgery on his right ankle. He lost his No. 1 ranking to Novak Djokovic on Monday.