USOC chided for protecting image over athletes
A congressional review of the U. S. Olympic system’s handling of sex-abuse cases criticizes a culture that sought to protect reputation and image over athlete safety.
A House subcommittee released the report Thursday, outlining conclusions about the handling of sexabuse cases involving Larry Nassar and others that have led to calls for change at the U. S. Olympic Committee and the sports organizations it oversees.
The report said that perhaps its most troubling finding was a culture that prioritized image over safety.
The report acknowledges the changes that have come since Nassar’s crimes were exposed. But it criticizes the lack of conformity among the organizations, noting some didn’t use background checks or publish banned lists.
Among the panel’s recommendations are for a review of the law that governs the USOC, and for the USOC to use its authority to more actively protect athletes.
USOC CEO Sarah Hirshland pointed out the federation formed the U.S. Center for SafeSport and is reviewing how it engages with the national governing bodies and athletes. A report commissioned by former WNBA President Lisa Borders is expected next year.
“We will continue to do the work necessary to develop a healthy culture that keeps athletes safe and allows them to be their very best,” Hirshland said.
In one of the most striking examples of the diffuse policies that exist in the U.S. Olympic system, the report included a table detailing each national governing bodies’ policy on how it handles banned lists. Each response was different; 18 of the national governing bodies do not publish their lists.
Those differences are part of what has made it difficult for the SafeSport Center to publish a comprehensive list of all banned people among the many tasks it was given when it was established in March 2017.
EARLY DELIVERY FOR FELIX
» Only 32 weeks into her pregnancy, Olympic sprint champion Allyson Felix gave birth to daughter Camryn on Nov. 28 in an emergency Cesarean section after tests showed the baby’s heart rate had dropped to dangerous levels.
Camryn weighed 3 pounds, 7 ounces. Felix, 33, says her baby is in the newborn ICU, and doing fine. Felix wrote on ESPN.com that every day her daughter “gets stronger and more beautiful.”
Baseball
CAHILL HEADS SOUTH » The Los Angeles Angels have added to their pitching staff, agreeing to a $9 million, one-year deal with Trevor Cahill. The 30-year old right-hander went 7- 4 with a 3.76 ERA for the A’s last season. He allowed only eight home runs in 110 innings, at 0.65 per nine innings being the fourth-lowest in the American League. His 7.36 hits allowed per nine innings were the ninth-lowest.
Cahill, who grew up nearby in Oceanside, was selected to the All- Star Game in 2010 while with the A’s. He is 80- 83 with a 4.08 ERA 10 big league seasons. He has a 2.61 ERA in six starts and two relief appearances at Angel Stadium. MURPHY HEADED TO COLORADO » Infielder Daniel Murphy has agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies, pending a successful physical. Murphy spent last season with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs, where he hit a combined .299 with 12 homers.
The 33-year- old Murphy could play second base for the Rockies if DJ LeMahieu departs in free agency. The Rockies may also be looking at Murphy to take over at first base should Ian Desmond move to the outfield. PADRES SIGNS KINSLER » Ian Kinsler finalized an $8 million, two-year contract with the San Diego Padres, who cleared space on the 40man roster by designating veteran left-hander Clayton Richard for assignment.
Kinsler, 36, won his second career Gold Glove Award last season, which he split between the Los Angeles Angels and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
Soccer
QUAKES GET JUDSON ON LOAN » The Earthquakes have acquired Judson Silva Tavares, a Brazilian defensive midfielder known as “Judson,” on a season-long loan using targeted allocation money with an option to buy from Tombense. Judson will occupy an international roster spot. EARTHQUAKES OPEN AT HOME » The Earthquakes’ 2019 season opener will be against the Montreal Impact at 7 p.m. March 2 at Avaya Stadium. The game will be the debut of new coach Matias Almeyda. QUAKES’ LIMA GETS THE CALL » Earthquakes defender Nick Lima has been called to new coach Gregg Berhalter’s first U. S. national team training camp next month. Lima, 24, is part of a young roster chosen for the camp. Berhalter chose 12 players with no national team experience and seven others with five appearances or fewer.
Lima, a former Cal star, is the Quakes’ second Homegrown Player. He started 20 games and had two goals and an assist in 2017 and was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year. BELGIUM FINISHES NO. 1» Belgium ends 2018 atop FIFA’s rankings with World Cup winner France at No. 2. FIFA says Belgium is a single ranking point 1,727 to 1,726 ahead of a French team that won their World Cup semifinal in Russia.
Brazil is No. 3 and World Cup runner-up Croatia is No. 4 in a mostly unchanged monthly ranking. England and Portugal, which both qualified last month for the UEFA Nations League Final Four tournament, are Nos. 5 and 6. Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain, and Denmark complete the top 10.
Mexico leads CONCACAF region teams at No. 17 and the United States is No. 25.
NBA
EXHIBITIONS SET FOR INDIA » The NBA will play its first games in India next year. The league announced Thursday the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings will play two exhibition games Oct. 4-5 at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai.
The Kings are owned by Vivek Ranadive, the NBA’s first Indian-born majority owner. He calls it an honor to help bring the game to his home country. He says the “world wants to watch basketball and India is a fast-growing new frontier.” BULLS’ PORTIS OUT » The Chicago Bulls expect forward Bobby Portis to miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right ankle. He was injured in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss to Brooklyn. The team said an MRI on Thursday showed no structural damage. The game was Portis’ fifth since returning from a sprained ligament in the right knee that he suffered early in the season. In nine appearances, he is averaging 11.9 points and eight rebounds.
NHL
BERGLUND CLEARS WAIVERS » The Buffalo Sabres are set to terminate the remaining 3½ seasons of Patrik Berglund’s contract after the forward cleared 24-hour waivers. The Sabres waived Berglund on Wednesday after suspending him for failing to report to the team for its road game at Washington on Saturday.
Berglund stands to lose the $9.85 million owed him over the final three years of his contract, along with what’s left of the $4.7 million he’s still owed this year. The Sabres benefit by having a $3.85 million annual salary cap hit removed from their books. EX- SENATORS GM PLEADS GUILTY » Former Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee pleaded guilty to harassing a 19-year- old male hotel shuttle driver. Lee, 57, entered the plea in Buffalo City Court just before his nonjury trial was to begin. Lee was suspended by the Senators in June and resigned in August after 23 years with the team.
Skiing
HIRSCHER SETS RECORD » Marcel Hirscher returned to a hill where he raced as a kid to become the most successful Austrian skier of all time. The seven-time overall champion won a World Cup slalom at Saalbach-Hinterglemm in his native province of Salzburg for his 63rd career victory, overtaking Annemarie Moser-Proell, who had 62 wins when she retired in 1980.
Only Ingemar Stenmark (86) and Lindsey Vonn (82) have won more World Cup races.