USA Gymnastics Leaders Resign As Nassar Hearing Continues

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Three top executives for USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the sport, have resigned as fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal continues. Nassar, 54, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, is sitting through blistering testimony from a parade of some 140 women and girls confront him in a Michigan courtroom for molesting them under the guise of “medically necessary” treatment.

The organization has been on de facto trial in the Nassar sentencing. Olympic gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman — all members of the 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning team known as the “Fierce Five” all pointed a finger at USA Gymnastics, saying the organization repeatedly ignored their complaints about Nassar and allowed a culture of abuse to continue. Gabby Douglas, also a Fierce Five team member, also has said Nassar abused her, as has Simone Biles, who won five medals, four of them gold, at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement that Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley all resigned, effective Jan. 21. An interim chairperson will be named until permanent replacements can be selected.

“We support their decisions to resign at this time. We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization,” Kerry Perry, president and CEO or USA Gymnastics said. “As the board identifies its next chair and fills the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure our culture, policies and actions reflect our commitment to those we serve.”

Last week, USA Gymnastics severed its agreement with the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas, and said it will no longer serve as the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center. Several athletes, including Biles, have said Nassar sexually abused them there. The governing body also canceled a training camp for the U.S. Women’s National Team that was to have have taken place there this week.

“We have cancelled next week’s training camp for the U.S. Women’s National Team. We are exploring alternative sites to host training activities and camps until a permanent location is determined. We thank all those in the gymnastics community assisting in these efforts.”

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting a criminal investigation into the abuse claims.

Nassar’s sentencing hearing continued for a fifth day Monday as Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina allowed more of his accusers to give victim impact statements. It’s unclear when the hearing will wrap up, but Aquilina plans to allow anyone who wants to testify against the disgraced doctor to do so.

He complained last week in a six-page, single-spaced letter that the marathon hearing is mentally difficult for him, but Aquilina dismissed it as “mumbo jumbo.”

"Spending four or five days listening to them is minor, considering the hours of pleasure you've had at their expense, ruining their lives," Aquilina said of Nassar, at one time a respected physician who treated some of America's top Olympic gymnasts. After the scandal erupted, he was stripped of his medical credentials.

Nassar is already serving a 60-year sentence on federal pornography charges and could get another 40 years after he pleaded guilty last November to molesting seven girls at Michigan State University, where he previously worked; at his home; and at a Lansing area gymnastics club. He will be sentenced Jan. 31 on three similar charges in nearby Eaton County, and he also faces a spate of civil lawsuits.

Photo of Larry Nassar by David Eggert/AP