‘We must do more, and we will do more’

The U.S. Olympic Committee declined to provide an opposing view. Excerpts from a statement USOC released last week:

In February 2018, a special committee of the United States Olympic Committee board of directors hired Ropes & Gray to conduct an independent and thorough investigation to determine when individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics and the USOC first became aware of any evidence of Larry Nassar’s abuse of athletes; what that evidence was; and what they did with it.

“The U.S. Olympic community failed the victims, survivors and their families, and we apologize again to everyone who has been harmed,” said Susanne Lyons, USOC independent board member and incoming board chair. “We now have a much more comprehensive view of individual and institutional failures. Everyone in the Olympic and Paralympic community, including the USOC, must learn from the report and take appropriate actions to strengthen protections for athletes. We recognize that we must do more, and we will do more.”

“The USOC has already taken important actions to strengthen athlete safeguards and help the USOC be more effective in our mission to empower and support athletes,” said CEO Sarah Hirshland, who joined the USOC in August. “Sexual abuse, harassment and discrimination have no place in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community, and it’s on all of us ... to foster a healthy culture for competitive excellence.”

The USOC has already implemented a number of reforms and initiatives, including instituting new leadership and stronger accountability measures; starting the process to revoke USA Gymnastic’s recognition and determine the best path forward for gymnastics in the USA; launching, supporting and strengthening the Center for SafeSport and other athlete safety programs, policies and procedures; empowering athletes’ voices in shaping key USOC and National Governing Body (NGB) policies; and evaluating and reforming how the USOC engages with NGBs and athletes.

The USOC will share information about additional actions it is taking ... as a result of these findings.