United States

Olympic Committee CEO Apologizes, Says He Was Unaware of Extent of Abuse

While the USOC found out too late, it has taken steps to prevent future abuse

The leader of the U.S. Olympic Committee says in a letter he was not aware of the full scope of the Larry Nassar sex-abuse allegations before law enforcement got involved, and that he had no knowledge of a settlement between USA Gymnastics and 2012 Olympic champion McKayla Maroney in a case involving the now-imprisoned former team doctor.

CEO Scott Blackmun sent the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, on Thursday, the day after Maroney filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the nondisclosure clauses in the settlement.

The USOC is named as a defendant, and the lawsuit says the federation had a culture that concealed known and suspected sex abusers.

In the letter, Blackmun said "I am so sorry that the Olympic family failed these athletes," and that while the USOC found out too late, it has taken steps to prevent future abuse by creating the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which investigates sex-abuse allegations in Olympic sports.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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