A day after USA Gymnastics hired Edward Nyman as its first Dir of Sports Medicine & Science, the NGB yesterday backtracked, saying his "employment will not continue due to a conflict of interest," according to Nancy Armour of USA TODAY. No other details were provided, including "why the disqualifying information wasn’t uncovered during the hiring process." This marks "another false start for an organization still trying to recover from the damage of Larry Nassar’s widespread abuse." It also "damages the credibility" of USAG CEO Li Li Leung. This is the third time since August a USAG management hire has "lasted less than a week; Mary Bono lasted four days as the interim CEO ... and Mary Lee Tracy was asked to resign three days after she was named elite development coordinator." There was speculation Nyman was "let go because women who were abused by Nassar had objected to his appointment." But USAG in a statement said his departure was "not based on any comments made on social media platforms or anywhere else" (USA TODAY, 5/1). ESPN.com's John Barr noted Nyman's hiring "brought an instant reaction from the gymnastics community, with many women who have identified themselves as survivors of Nassar's abuse stating their discomfort with a male director of sports medicine being in charge of athlete care" (ESPN.com, 4/30).
MONEY MATTERS: In California, Scott Reid noted U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robyn Moberly last week "approved an employment contract" between USAG and Leung, who will "receive $450,000 in annual salary and as much as $90,000 in annual bonuses." In asking Moberly to approve the contract, an attorney for USAG "emphasized Leung's ability to rehabilitate the organization's image with corporate sponsors and other groups." USAG, "facing dozens of lawsuits" stemming from the Nassar scandal and in the "midst of Chapter 11 proceedings," paid nearly $700,000 in legal fees and expenses and listed $1.4M in total legal expanses last month (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/27).
