A bipartisan group of U.S. senators yesterday called for a "special committee to investigate" how USA Gymnastics and the USOC "handled sexual abuse of athletes" in the LARRY NASSAR scandal, according to Maggie Astor of the N.Y. TIMES. If passed by the full Senate, a resolution sponsored by Sen. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-N.H.) and Sen. JONI ERNST (R-Iowa) would "establish a special committee to determine the extent" to which USAG and the USOC "were complicit in the criminal or negligent behavior of their employees relating to sexual abuse." The committee would also be "charged with identifying 'solutions to the systemic failures' that allowed such abuse to continue unchecked for decades, and with recommending ways to increase transparency and athlete safety." According to a statement released yesterday, 16 other senators have "signed on as co-sponsors" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/8). Sen. JERRY MORAN (R-Kan.) yesterday said that his committee is "demanding answers" from USAG and is "exploring other industries, after sexual harassment and abuse" by Nassar. In DC, Sally Persons notes Moran "chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security." The subcommittee has "jurisdiction" over USAG as well as U.S. Olympic and NCAA athletes (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/8).
GIVING THEIR SUPPORT: In Indianapolis, Kwiatkowski, Alesia & Evans report USAG has "created a fund to help secure counseling services for gymnasts who have suffered sexual abuse through their involvement in the sport." The NGB and the National Gymnastics Foundation yesterday announced the "creation of the Athlete Resistance Fund." A five-person committee of the NGF will "oversee the fund, which will be administered by the independent third-party administrator." The committee will be chaired by NGF BOD member TINA FERRIOLA, a "former competitive gymnast" and NYC Elite Gymnastics CEO (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/8).
