U.S. taekwondo athletes STEVEN and JEAN LOPEZ were "allowed to participate in last summer’s Rio Games even though they were being investigated for sexual misconduct, and the allegations against them have since drawn the interest of the FBI." USA Taekwondo "began investigating the Lopezes more than two years ago after receiving complaints that they had allegedly sexually assaulted multiple women." No hearings were held and USA Taekwondo, after consulting with the USOC, "agreed to put the inquiries on hold before the Rio Games." FBI special agent SHAUNA DUNLAP said that the FBI "would neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation." In separate interviews, Steven and Jean Lopez "denied allegations of sexual assault made by four women" (USA TODAY, 6/9).
INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY: Sources said that the USADA has "sent an official notice of rules violations to an endocrinologist who has treated several Olympians in the Nike Oregon Project stable of elite runners." The notice is a "formal signal that officials are pursuing sanctions in the case." Officials are "believed to be building cases against athletes and ALBERTO SALAZAR, the leader of the prominent team, who has trained some of the most decorated track athletes in the world." Dr. JEFFREY STUART BROWN is "accused of violating antidoping rules and colluding with Salazar to cover it up" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/9).
PATRIOTS IN THE NEWS: The Patriots Charitable Foundation presented their Community MVP Awards Thursday night. The event was emceed by Patriots Foundations President JOSH KRAFT, the youngest son of Patriots Owner BOB KRAFT (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/9)....The Boston Symphony Orchestra "held its 36th annual Presidents for Pops fund-raiser Wednesday night," and Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT "came on stage at the end of the show to give conductor KEITH LOCKHART a break" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/9)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY on Wednesday "stopped by a benefit for the Ellie Fund." The charity "provides support services -- free of charge -- to breast cancer patients" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/9)....Patriots WR DANNY AMENDOLA "threw out the ceremonial first pitch" before Thursday's Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox game (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 6/9).
NAMES: Miami football coach MARK RICHT was honored by the city on Thursday with a "ceremonial key to Miami" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/9)....Former MLBer CHRIS LEROUX will be the "next star" on “THE BACHELOR CANADA” (CP, 6/8)....ESPN’s TONY KORNHEISER on Thursday night was at The Palm in DC for a “party honoring” longtime maître d’ TOMMY JACOMO (POLITICO.com, 6/9)....TNT’s CHRIS WEBBER said that he and his wife, ERIKA, “welcomed twin daughters to the world recently after years of trying to become parents” (MLIVE.com, 6/8)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer RYAN LOCHTE and his fiancée, KAYLA RAE REID, have “welcomed their first child,” a son named CAIDEN ZANE LOCHTE (NEWSDAY.com, 6/8).
