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USOC CEO Scott Blackmun speaks with the media this morning in Rio.
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U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said today that the body would not investigate an Indianapolis Star report that USA Gymnastics failed to forward complaints of sexual abuse by coaches to police.
“We do not intend to investigate,” Blackmun said in an opening ceremony-day press conference in Rio. “We could not possibly get into the business of investigating allegations of misconduct in 47 different NGBs. I do think we have a pretty state-of-the-art policy regarding abuse and misconduct, not just sexual misconduct. We will watch those proceedings. I will say since we became more focused on this issue in 2010, like many others, USA Gymnastics have been one of the most vocal proponents of creating very strong policies, procedures and investigative resources to take a look at this.”
Blackmun said it’s USOC policy to immediately refer allegations to authorities but noted that policies have evolved in the time since some of the cases cited by the Star occurred. Three of the four cases occurred in 2006 or earlier, and a fourth involved 2010 national Women’s Coach of the Year Martin Sharp. The body reportedly received a detailed complaint about him in 2011 but didn’t report him to police until four years later, according to the Star.
“I think different organizations have evolved how they deal with this, and I think the way USA Gymnastics and many, many other NGBs, not just USA Gymnastics, may have dealt with this 15 years ago is very different from what we think is an appropriate way to deal with it today.”
He acknowledged USA Gymnastics’ failure to investigate but did not directly address a question asking if its president, Steve Penny, should resign if the Star’s allegations are verified.
“That was one of the issues associated with USA Gymnastics’ case, in some cases they weren’t reported and they need to be,” Blackmun said. “Even today our policy is not to investigate, our policy is to immediately report any credible suggestions that there is abuse taking place to the authorities since they have the best investigative powers.”
