USOC calls for CEO to resign

Officials within the U.S. Olympic Committee say USA Gymnastics President and CEO Steve Penny must resign so the national governing body can move forward in the midst of a sex abuse scandal, two U.S. Olympic officials told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday.

The Olympic officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

More than 360 cases in which gymnasts accused coaches of sexual transgressions over 20 years have been reported by The Indianapolis Star. More than 80 gymnasts have come forward with sexual abuse allegations against Larry Nassar, the national gymnastics team physician from 1996 to 2015.

Nassar was charged by the Michigan attorney general in November with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. Last month, he was arraigned in Ingham County (Mich.) on 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 14 lesser included alternative charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Those charges stem from his 20-year tenure at Michigan State, which also is being sued by at least 40 women or girls. Nassar also was indicted in December on two federal charges related to child pornography.

The USOC cannot fire Penny – only the board of USA Gymnastics can do that – but the USOC holds great sway as the organization in charge of oversight and governance of all national governing bodies, including USA Gymnastics. In that role, it can put significant pressure on Penny to leave for the good of the organization.

The U.S. Olympic officials said they believe Penny must leave USA Gymnastics for the organization to have a fresh start. Among the concerns, the Olympic officials cited Penny’s failure to immediately report Nassar after allegations of sexual abuse by the doctor were reported to USA Gymnastics in June 2015.

USA Gymnastics spent five weeks conducting an investigation before reporting Nassar to the FBI and removing him from his position. The FBI launched an investigation into Nassar nine months later, The Wall Street Journal reported.

USA Gymnastics did not immediately have a comment on Wednesday but has previously said it reported claims of abuse to law enforcement and has emphasized its commitment to policies to prevent abuse and encourage the reporting of allegations.