USA Gymnastics Loses Sponsors Amid Claims It Ignored Sex Assault

Two major corporate sponsors have yanked their support for USA Gymnastics after the sexual assault scandal involving former team physician Larry Nassar, who is serving a 60-year sentence on federal pornography charges and pleaded guilty in Michigan to sexually abusing young girls under the guise of medical treatment. Both Procter & Gamble and Kellogg’s are not currently supporting USA Gymnastics, also under a cloud for its handling of allegations that date back several years.

Procter & Gamble has been a named sponsor of USA Gymnastics’ national championships for five seasons and Kellogg’s has sponsored a series of nationwide tours. They and other sponsors contributed about $9.4 million to USA Gymnastics in fiscal 2016, accounting for about 35 percent of the organization’s total revenues, according to IRS filings.

The exact level of support by the two corporations is unclear.

USA Gymnastics was accused in 2016 in a blistering Indianapolis Star investigative report of ignoring gymnasts’ complaints about Nassar, who was a team physician through four Olympic Games. The report, and subsequent lawsuits, said USA Gymnastics, three of its former chief executives and former U.S. national team directors Bela and Martha Karolyi created a culture that enabled Nassar to sexually abuse athletes without fear of reprisal.

USA Gymnastics has since hired a safe sport director and an in-house lawyer, and made other changes. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Procter & Gamble said it is taking a wait-and-see attitude before deciding to renew its corporate support.

“We support the actions USA Gymnastics has taken thus far, including accepting the recommendations by an independent expert and hiring a new Safe Sport Director,” Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Tressie Rose said in an emailed statement to the Southern California News Group, whose publications include the Orange County Register

“In addition, we are supportive of the broader actions taking place via the USOC Safe Sport program as well as the Federal reform proposed by Senator Feinstein and others,” the report continued. “But we want to ensure all voices who have been affected by abuse have been heard and that USAG takes all measures necessary to address such vitally important issues.”

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to require amateur athletics governing bodies to report sex-abuse allegations to appropriate police and child-welfare authorities. The bill passed and is now before the U.S. House.

Battle Creek, Michigan-based Kellogg’s said in an emailed statement to Patch that it, too, is hopeful the steps taken by USA Gymnastics will create a safer environment for athletes.

“The contract for Kellogg’s most recent sponsorship of USA Gymnastics ended at the close of 2016,” Kellogg’s spokesperson Kris Charles said. “At this point, we have not renewed but will assess the USAG for 2020 Summer Games. Our focus right now is on activating our Winter Olympics sponsorship.”

Nassar, who was fired by Michigan State University after the Indy Star’s explosive report, has been accused of sexual assault in criminal complaints and civil lawsuits filed by more than 140 former gymnasts and young athletes. Among them are Olympic champions Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, who said they were assaulted by Nassar both at the Karolyis’ Texas training ranch and during international competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Earlier this year, USA Gymnastics reached a confidential out-of-court settlement in California with a former Olympic gymnast who said she was assaulted by Nassar when she was a teenager.

John Manly, an attorney representing several U.S. Olympic and national team gymnasts who have accused Nassar, told the Southern California News Group his clients are “grateful for these sponsors taking a stand,” but said he doesn’t understand how other sponsors, including Under Armour, Hershey’s, Chobani, NBC and AT&T “can continue to stand behind this organization given what’s gone on.”

“Either you’re on the side of children or you’re not,” he said. “There’s no middle ground.”

Olympic medalist Jamie Dantzscher, former U.S. national team member Jeanette Antolin and two-time U.S. rhythmic champion Jessica Howard applauded the decisions by Procter & Gamble and Kellogg’s to withdraw their USA Gymnastics sponsorships. All three say Nassar molested them.

“Proctor & Gamble and Kellogg’s have decided they can no longer support an organization which refuses to take responsibility for the crimes committed by their National Team doctor and their failure to warn others of his criminal conduct,” the three former gymnast said in a statement. “Hershey’s, Under Armour, AT&T, United Airlines and NBC Sports should put their money where America’s conscience is and withdrawal their financial support of this organization until their officers and directors are replaced by people who will protect the health and safety of child athletes.

“USA Gymnastics Chairman Paul Parilla and the Board of Directors have focused their attention on money and medals while USA Gymnastics is attempting to cover up the largest child sex abuse scandal in the history of sports. They must be replaced by people who will put the health and safety of athletes first.”

Photo of Aly Raisman in 2016 Olympic Games by Elsa/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images