A new lawsuit alleges the USOC was involved because it failed to act against both of the Lopez brothersSteven Lopez (l) and Jean Lopez (r)
A new lawsuit against the USOC and its handling of sexual abuse allegations "should be read carefully by members of Congress, who are prepping to interview Olympic officials May 23 about how an epidemic of sex abuse has flourished across multiple sports," according to Sally Jenkins of the WASHINGTON POST. The suit, filed last week, alleges the USOC was involved in the "domestic and international sexual exploitation of young female athletes" by failing to act against former Olympic taekwondo coach Jean Lopez and his brother Steven. It contains a "vital timeline and vivid blueprint of the USOC's appallingly evasive standard operating procedures, and purposeful liability-dodging, and lip-service sanctimony." The USOC's strategy is "to point forward and refuse to look back," but Congress "shouldn't fall for it." The source of this issue "lies at the very top, in the offices of directors and general counsels." A U.S. House subcommittee has called five officials, including acting CEO Susanne Lyons, to "testify May 23, but they are aiming too low." The committee "should summon" USOC Chair Larry Probst "and ask, 'Why should we not demand your resignation on the spot?'" Probst must explain and "account for the USOC's failures over his tenure," which began in '08. Without summoning Probst and the USOC lawyers who "dictated its legal policies," the subcommittee "probably won't get substantive answers or arrive at real reforms." If the USOC is not held accountable, the "toxic culture of sexual abuse will persist, and the enablers will be emboldened" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/12).
