The USOC BOD “reached a consensus” regarding the ongoing sex abuse scandal at USA Gymnastics on Thursday and discussed the matter with USA Gymnastics Chair Paul Parilla later in the day, but they would not say exactly what they discussed, including whether they demanded that President & CEO Steve Penny resign or be fired. The AP is citing a source that the USOC has recommended Penny resign, but that could not be confirmed by SportsBusiness Journal. Heading into Thursday’s meeting, some members of the BOD wanted the USOC to insist that Penny step down. Penny is under fire for not responding more forcefully to allegations of sex abuse by former women’s team doctor Larry Nassar, who now faces numerous criminal charges and civil suits. USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said it was not appropriate to disclose what the board said to Parilla until the NGB has had a chance to respond. USOC Chair Larry Probst said, "We had a very thoughtful, lengthy and detailed conversation with our board. There were a variety of points of view expressed. At the end of that discussion, we reached a consensus point of view. We have communicated that to the chairman of USA Gymnastics, and obviously they need some time to consider the feedback, the input we provided to them, and we look forward to a response from them in the appropriate time frame.” A deadline was not set for a response, but Probst said, “We’re hoping that it takes place sooner rather than later.” Parilla in a statement said, “The entire leadership of USA Gymnastics shares the USOC’s commitment to promoting a safe environment for all athletes, and we take its views seriously. USA Gymnastics has initiated a comprehensive, thorough and independent examination of our requirements, mandates and procedures in this area and we expect this review will identify ways to strengthen our program and better protect youth. The USA Gymnastics Board of Directors will convene shortly and work to determine next steps.”
NO FURTHER OPTIONS DISCUSSED: Blackmun said the board did not discuss options if USA Gymnastics does not agree with its assessment. The USOC could withhold grant funding or move to decertify the NGB as the exclusive governing body of the sport. "If USA Gymnastics comes back and wants to head a substantially different direction, we'll report that to our board and see where they want to go with it,” Blackmun said. He noted the USOC BOD first raised the Gymnastics scandal in the context of a broader discussion about preventing abuse. The USOC-funded Center for Safe Sport, a central commission designed to deal with all future complaints of abuse in sports, recently opened. “The whole subject of sexual abuse and safe sport has obviously been getting a significant amount of increased coverage, and I think, obviously, the center point of that is around USA Gymnastics,” Blackmun said. "So we felt it was appropriate to talk about the topic of safe sport broadly, and it certainly was difficult to do that without a specific discussion around gymnastics as well."
SPONSOR LEAVING: Pennsylvania-based Int'l Gymnastics Camp has terminated its sponsorship of USA Gymnastics, the first partner to cut ties with the NGB amid the sex abuse scandal. In a statement posted to its web site, Camp Dir Brent Klaus said the camp had put its sponsorship "on hold” in January and decided to take the next step Thursday.
