Larry Nassar Sex Abuse Scandal Spurs USA Gymnastics Changes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — USA Gymnastics is turning to a longtime children's rights advocate and a former prosecutor to help address issues that have plagued the organization amid a sexual abuse scandal that has shaken one of the U.S. Olympic movement's marquee programs.

Toby Stark, who spent the last seven years as executive director of the children's advocacy group Chaucie's Place, will serve as the director of safe sport for USA Gymnastics. Stark will oversee all aspects of USA Gymnastics safe sport policies, guidelines, educational programs, reporting and adjudication services.

Mark Busby, who focused on child abuse and sex crime cases while with the Marion County prosecutor's office, will provide in-house legal counsel.

Both hirings are in response to recommendations made by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels, who in an independent report released last month called on USA Gymnastics to make a complete culture change. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"These two professionals will help us better protect athletes and continually enhance the systems and processes we have in place," Ron Galimore, chief operating officer for USA Gymnastics, said in a statement. "Bringing this expertise to USA Gymnastics is another important step because the well-being of athletes is a top priority."

USA Gymnastics is facing multiple civil lawsuits filed by former athletes who claim the organization was negligent for failing to monitor a longtime team doctor now facing multiple charges of sexual in Michigan.

Larry Nassar, who spent more than 25 years working with USA Gymnastics, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to accumulating thousands of images of child pornography. Nassar is awaiting trial in three cases alleging that he sexually molested a total of nine girls at his campus clinic, home or a gymnastics club in the Lansing area.

Photo: In this April 15, 2004 file photo Jamie Dantzscher performs her floor routine during preliminaries at the NCAA women's gymnastics championships in Los Angeles. Dantzscher a 2000 Olympian is one of dozens of women and girls, that have filed civil lawsuits against Larry Nassar a former Michigan State University doctor who specialized in treating elite U.S. gymnasts. Nassar was charged Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 with sexually assaulting nine girls, in a court in Ingham County, Michigan. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)