USA Gymnastics suspends former Olympics coach John Geddert who worked with Larry Nassar

USA Gymnastics suspended former U.S. women’s gymnastics national team coach John Geddert on Monday, according to the Lansing State Journal and ESPN. Geddert operated two gyms that worked with trainer Larry Nassar, who has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 150 women over decades who were associated with USAG and Michigan State University.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement obtained by ESPN:

”John Geddert has been suspended under the interim measures provisions of Section 10.5 of USA Gymnastics’ Bylaws. USA Gymnastics is unable to comment further as this is a pending matter.”

The bylaw under which Geddert is being suspended gives USAG the right to suspend members to “ensure the safety and well-being of the gymnastics community or where an allegation is sufficiently serious that an Adverse Party’s continued participation could be detrimental to the sport or its reputation.”

In November, Nassar pled guilty to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. USAG suspended Geddert on Monday as testimony continued in a multiday sentencing hearing for Nassar that included graphic Victim Impact Statements.

Amanda Smith, a gymnast coached by Geddert at Twistars USA Gymnastics Club, explained how he and Nassar controlled the gym with a culture of fear in interviews after giving her statement on Monday.

”That was a daily thing,” Smith said, via ESPN.com. “It was like Dr. Nassar had the back room, and [Geddert] had the locker room. We were terrified to go in there. Even if you didn’t know what happened in there, it was very clear when girls came out and were hyperventilating because they were so scared.”

According to a lawsuit filed in 2017, Geddert failed to protect gymnasts at his gym from Nassar. Geddert has not issued a statement following his suspension by USAG.