WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), today held a hearing examining the U.S. Olympic community’s ability to protect athletes from sexual abuse.
“Too often it seems that the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) haven’t acted until they are publicly pressured to do so. When you have survivors saying that they were asked to stay silent, felt like they weren’t heard, and didn’t feel safe - there is something wrong with the system," said Chairman Harper.
He continued, “We greatly appreciate all the assistance that the survivors have provided. Our job, now, is to do everything we can to protect our athletes. This hearing will serve as an opportunity to review whether the USOC and NGBs have adequate policies and procedures in place to protect athletes from sexual abuse."
Chairman Harper looks on as witnesses provide opening statements
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) posed questions to Ms. Susanne Lyons, Acting CEO, U.S. Olympic Committee. Chairman Walden began, “One of the concerns the committee has heard repeatedly from survivors is that the USOC is more concerned about its own reputation, about medals and money, than it is about athlete safety."
He then pointed to a USOC policy document on athlete safety issued last month which lists how the USOC handles a complaint or imposes a sanction, and asked, “Can you explain why one of the factors to consider is, and I quote, ‘the effect on the USOC’s reputation’?"
To which Ms. Lyons replied, “I have to admit to not having seen that before, and I have to say, it does not belong on that list."
#SubOversight member Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) asked Ms. Lyons, “NGBs have different policies regarding whether they maintain lists of banned coaches, and if they do, whether they publicize the list… Why hasn’t the USOC mandated that all NGBs maintain a list and further that they make this list publicly available?"
Ms. Lyons responded, “Working with our NGB partners, we will probably all be in agreement that we need to find a good way to do this and that information is available, transparent, and all in one centralized place where people can find it. It doesn’t exist today but we will make that a priority for us all to make that happen."
Rep. Walters followed up, “If an NGB puts an individual on a banned or suspended list, would the USOC grant that person access to an Olympic center or event?"
“That should not occur," Ms. Lyons replied.
Rep. Walters then brought forward a 2016 email exchange between USA Taekwondo and the USOC regarding an individual who had been suspended due to serious SafeSport allegations. She said, “According to the email, notwithstanding the suspension, this individual was issued a day pass for the High Performance Center in Rio by the USOC."
Ms. Lyons responded, “That certainly should not have happened, and it does point to one of the reasons we’re putting together an athlete safety commission to look at where these gaps in the system are."
Witnesses being sworn-in as the hearing gets underway
Ms. Kerry Perry, President and CEO, USA Gymnastics, testified that, moving forward, “I think it really does make a big difference that as a National Governing Body we look at everything. We look at our structure, we look at our policies, we look at our systems, we look at our medical, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard."
Ms. Shellie Pfohl, President and CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport, testified, “We know we still have a long way to go. Our data shows that the third most common reason cases are closed is because victims are reluctant to come forward. It is vitally important to continue building a national sports culture where victims feel safe, supported and empowered to report. Our work will not be done until we prevent misconduct from happening in the first place."
Mr. Steve McNally, Executive Director, USA Taekwondo, told the subcommittee, “We learned during the investigation that there are numerous inherent challenges in pursuing claims against offenders that need to be addressed as our sports movements move forward. National Governing Bodies are not the police or criminal prosecutors, and we do not have the standing or protection of law enforcement to elicit testimony, nor can our sanctions extend beyond terminating membership in our organizations and posting lists of offending members."
He continued, “What we can do, however, is something that the police cannot: we can insist that everyone who is associated with children on our behalf is trained to understand grooming behaviors, to recognize the subtle signs of abuse, and to ensure that abusers find no quarter in unregulated programs."
Mr. Tim Hinchey, President and CEO, USA Swimming, said, “USA Swimming embraces its obligations under the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act and already has policies in place which require reporting, prohibit retaliation, and limit one-on-one interactions between adults and children. Further, USA Swimming supports the U.S. Center for Safe Sport and is fully committed to its success."
Mr. Jamie Davis, CEO, USA Volleyball, testified, “…for many years we have utilized an electronic, internal system that precluded anyone banned or suspended for some period of time from being able to obtain membership with USA Volleyball or participate in USA Volleyball sanctioned events. The information was never secret, and anyone could make an inquiry to USA Volleyball regarding any current or prior participant…however, and in keeping with current best practices, USA Volleyball began posting a public list of suspended members on our website. I believe this adds value to the process and is important for all our participants and the public to see."
The Majority Memorandum, witness testimony, and an archived webcast are available online HERE.
