USOC pressure leads to USAG CEO Penny resignation amid abuse investigation

After months of mounting pressure from the Unites States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Gymnastics (USAG) president and CEO Steve Penny resigned on Thursday. All reporting came from the Indianapolis Star and USA Today.

The USOC asked that Penny step down earlier this month and implied that it was looking into decertifying the organization and possibly withdrawing funding. The USOC lacks the authority to remove Penny directly, the committee board of directors asked for his resignation at their quarterly board meeting in Los Angeles last week, delivering the recommendation to Paul Parilla, USAG’s chairman, according to USA Today.

President since 2005, Penny, 53, has always had unrelenting support from the board. This was mostly due to successful runs by the USAG during his tenure, including 100 medals from Olympics and world championships, and most notably the last two team Olympic gold medals. Penny was able to point to his success while he and the governing board pointed towards the success metrics accomplished during his term amidst the abuse allegations. Under Perry the U.S. gymnastics team remained the dominant Olympics team, known as the “Fantastic Five.”

Penny’s frequently stated mantra was “win medals, grow the sport, improve customer service, and increase visibility.” Many saw this as “win at any cost” and that while the USA team was racking up medals and endorsements, reports of rampant sexual abuse by coaches and one doctor, in particular, were ignored and lead to an environment where adolescent girls were preyed upon.

Many of the complaints center around the prominent doctor, Dr. Larry Nassar at the Bella and Martha Karolyi training complex, the preeminent facility where many of the US Olympic gymnasts have trained. As of Friday, more than 70 cases have been brought to light by attorney John Manly. Nassar served as the team Olympic doctor for USA Gymnastics and was on the faculty at Michigan State University, who fired him last fall when the allegations were first brought forward.

The suit claims that Nassar used an “inter-vaginal adjustment” technique when treating many of the gymnasts for injuries. Several women (who were adolescents at the time the abuse occurred) talked about him befriending them, and used flattery and candy to get closer to them. Many of the girls felt flattered by the attention and were told that the recovery method he employed was necessary “therapy.” One of his victims, Jessica Howard, wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times about the incident.

"“While the survivors we represent welcome the Penny resignation, we do not see it as the end of this scandal or need for reform. We see it as the end of the beginning,” attorney John Manly said in a statement. “The tacit culture of acceptance of child sex abuse was fostered not just by Mr. Penny, but many of the long-term members of the board. Make no mistake, this resignation is the result of the brave women who publicly spoke out about their sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar and the many other coaches who savaged children while USA Gymnastics looked the other way.”"

There are alleged incidents of rape and child pornography by other coaches throughout the nation. Often, the incidents were detected by others in the industry or complaints were brought forward by parents but ignored. The USA Today and Indy Star combed through hundreds of documents, and found that some of the coaches were fired, but were able to quickly move onto other coaching assignments within gymnastics. According to the Indy Star, “at least 368 gymnasts have alleged some form of sexual abuse at the hands of their coaches, gym owners, and other adults working gymnastics.”

"“It has been heartbreaking to learn of instances of abuse and it sickens me that young athletes would be exploited in such a manner,” Penny said in a statement issued by USA Gymnastics. “My decision to step aside as CEO is solely to support the best interests of USA Gymnastics at this time.” You can read the full USAG statement here."

The call for Penny’s resignation has been going on for months. Gold medalist Dominique Moceanu has been one of the biggest voices in the advocacy for the victims. Not a victim of Dr. Lassar herself, she wrote about the “toxic environment” she witnessed first hand at the Koralyi gymnastics ranch in 2012.

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"“Steve Penny’s resignation as head of USAG is the first step of many that need to take place to get our sport on the right track and protect our athletes,” Dominique Moceanu, an advocate for reform within USA Gymnastics, told ESPN on Thursday. “Much more work needs to be done. What we are looking at here with USAG is a need for a change in culture and a shift in priorities. Many have been harmed due to negligence while USAG’s leadership, including but not limited to Steve Penny, seems to have been more focused on protecting its own reputation.”"

You can read the full investigation here and the timeline of events here.