Six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman filed a civil lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics, claiming they “knew or should have known” about abuses committed by Larry Nassar under the guise of medical treatment. The lawsuit — that also names Nassar as a co-defendant — was filed Wednesday in California, according to The Associated Press.
Aly Raisman files lawsuit against US Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics
“I refuse to wait any longer for these organizations to do the right thing.”
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
“I refuse to wait any longer for these organizations to do the right thing,” Raisman said in a statement. “It is my hope that the legal process will hold them accountable and enable the change that is so desperately needed.”
Nassar, who served as a medical trainer with USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University for decades, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in January after pleading guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual misconduct in Michigan. In February, he was sentenced to another 40 to 125 years after pleading guilty to three additional counts of criminal sexual misconduct in Michigan. He had previously been sentenced to 60 years on federal child pornography charges. More than 260 women have come forward with accounts of abuse.
The USOC announced the resignation of Scott Blackmun as CEO of the organization on Wednesday. While Blackmun’s exit was attributed to his health, the USOC also announced reforms in response to the abuses of Nassar, including new funding for support and counseling for gymnasts impacted by the trainer’s crimes. Before his own resignation, Blackmun had called for the resignations of every board member at USA Gymnastics. That organization complied by the Jan. 31 deadline.
“My highest priority has been to push for change, so future generations of athletes will be safer,” Raisman said in her statement to media outlets. “It has become painfully clear that these organizations have no intention of properly addressing this problem. After all this time, they remain unwilling to conduct a full investigation, and without a solid understanding of how this happened, it is delusional to think sufficient changes can be implemented.”
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