Report: USA gymnasts need protection
USA Gymnastics needs to undergo a “complete culture change” throughout the entire organization to more effectively protect young athletes from sexual predators, according to a damning report released Tuesday.
The 144-page report by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels suggests that a cultural shift throughout USA Gymnastics is needed following a series of civil lawsuits against the organization and the subsequent arrest of a former doctor who allegedly sexually abused teen gymnasts during their time on the team. Daniels later said the number of sex-abuse victims, already in the hun- dreds, in fact has been underreported.
“In order to protect the young athletes in its charge, USA Gymnastics needs to undergo a complete cultural change, permeating the entire organization and communicated to the field in all its actions,” the report reads.
—