Two-time Olympic medallist McKayla Maroney says she was molested for years by a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, abuse she said started in her early teens and continued for the rest of her competitive career.
Maroney posted a lengthy statement on Twitter early Wednesday that described the allegations of abuse against Dr. Larry Nassar, who spent three decades working with athletes at USA Gymnastics but now is in jail in Michigan awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. Nassar also is awaiting trial on separate criminal sexual conduct charges and has been sued by more than 125 women alleging abuse.
Nassar has pleaded not guilty to the assault charges, and the dozens of civil suits filed in Michigan are currently in mediation.
Maroney, now 21, says the abuse began while attending a U.S. National team training camp at the Karoyli Ranch in the Sam Houston Forest north of Houston, Texas. Maroney was 13 at the time and wrote that Nassar told her she was receiving 香蕉视频直播渕edically necessary treatment he had been performing on patients for over 30 years.香蕉视频直播� Maroney did not detail Nassar香蕉视频直播檚 specific actions.
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Maroney, who won a team gold and an individual silver on vault as part of the 香蕉视频直播淔ierce Five香蕉视频直播� U.S. women香蕉视频直播檚 team at the 2012 Olympics in London, said Nassar continued to give her 香蕉视频直播渢reatment香蕉视频直播� throughout her career. She described Nassar giving her a sleeping pill while the team travelled to Japan for the 2011 world championships. Maroney says Nassar later visited her in her hotel room after the team arrived in Tokyo, where he molested her yet again.
香蕉视频直播淚 thought I was going to die that night,香蕉视频直播� Maroney wrote.
Maroney did not immediately return an interview request from The Associated Press. Attorneys for Nassar had no comment.
Maroney says she decided to come forward as part of the 香蕉视频直播�#MeToo香蕉视频直播� movement on social media that arose in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
香蕉视频直播淭his is happening everywhere,香蕉视频直播� Maroney wrote. 香蕉视频直播淲herever there is a position of power, there is the potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things I had to endure to get there, were unnecessary and disgusting.香蕉视频直播�
Maroney called for change, urging other victims to speak out and demanding organizations 香蕉视频直播渂e held accountable for their inappropriate actions and behaviour.香蕉视频直播�
Maroney is the highest profile gymnast yet to come forward claiming she was abused by Nassar. Jamie Dantzscher, a bronze medallist on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, was part of the initial wave of lawsuits filed against Nassar in 2016. Aly Raisman, who won six medals while serving as the captain of the U.S. women香蕉视频直播檚 team in both 2012 and 2016, called for sweeping change at USA Gymnastics in August.
USA Gymnastics launched an independent review of its policies in the wake of the allegations against Nassar in the summer of 2016 following reporting by the Indianapolis Star that highlighted chronic mishandling of abuse allegations against coaches and staff at some of its more than 3,500 clubs across the country.
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In June, the federation immediately adopted 70 recommendations proffered by Deborah Daniels, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the review. The new guidelines require member gyms to go to authorities immediately, with Daniels suggesting USA Gymnastics consider withholding membership from clubs that decline to do so. The organization also named Toby Stark, a child welfare advocate, as its director of SafeSport. Part of Stark香蕉视频直播檚 mandate is educating members on rules, educational programs, reporting and adjudication services.
USA Gymnastics praised Maroney香蕉视频直播檚 strength in a statement on Wednesday, adding it is 香蕉视频直播渙utraged and disgusted香蕉视频直播� by Nassar香蕉视频直播檚 alleged conduct.
香蕉视频直播淲e are strengthening and enhancing our policies and procedures regarding abuse, as well as expanding our educational efforts to increase awareness of signs to watch for and reporting suspicions of abuse, including the obligation to immediately report,香蕉视频直播� USA Gymnastics wrote. 香蕉视频直播淯SA Gymnastics, its members and community are committed to working together to keep our athletes as safe as possible.香蕉视频直播�
The organization had initially agreed to purchase the training facility at the Karolyi Ranch following longtime national team co-ordinator Martha Karolyi香蕉视频直播檚 retirement shortly after the 2016 Olympics ended. The organization has since opted out of that agreement. The organization also fired president Steve Penny in March. A replacement has not been named.
Maroney, who lives in California and officially retired in 2015, encouraged others to speak out.
香蕉视频直播淥ur silence has given the wrong people power for too long,香蕉视频直播� she wrote, 香蕉视频直播渁nd it香蕉视频直播檚 time to take our power back.香蕉视频直播�
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