US Olympic Committee to investigate Nassar's sex scandal

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Scott Blackmun, the chief executive officer of the US Olympic Committee(USOC), confirmed on Wednesday that the USOC has decided to launch an investigation by an independent third party to examine how abuse by the former US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, could have gone undetected for so long.

Nassar, 54, was sentenced on Wednesday to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls under the guise of treatment. 156 victims appeared in court in Lansing, Michigan, or had their statements read out by others since last week. This includes Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney. Many victims said the USOC and USA Gymnastics(USAG) failed to protect the athletes from the sexual abuse.

"We need to know when complaints were brought forward and to whom. This investigation will include both USAG and the USOC, and we believe USAG will cooperate fully. We will make the results public," Blackmun said in an open letter posted on their official website.

"The purpose of this message is to tell all of Nassar's victims and survivors, directly, how incredibly sorry we are. We have said it in other contexts, but we have not been direct enough with you. We are sorry for the pain caused by this terrible man, and sorry that you weren't afforded a safe opportunity to pursue your sports dreams. The Olympic family is among those that have failed you," the statement read.

The statement went on to say that there is a possibility of USAG being decertified as a national governing body but there is also a clear idea that USA gymnastics also includes clubs and athletes who had no knowledge of the abuse. However the severity of the abuse means that strong steps have to be taken.

"We will pursue decertification if USA Gymnastics does not fully embrace the necessary changes in their governance structure along with other mandated changes under review right now," Blackmun added. Enditem