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SPORTS Friday 7 december 2018

zation's hierarchy.
It's that chaos at the top
that led the USOC to initi-
ate the process of remov-
ing USA Gymnastics as the
sport's national governing
body at the Olympic level
— a step that's taken only
under the most extreme cir-
cumstances.
In an open letter to the
gymnastics community
in November, USOC CEO
Sarah Hirshland said "you
In this Feb. 26, 2014, file photo, the USA Gymnastics logo is dis- deserve better," and that
played at AT&T Stadium during an news conference announc- the challenges facing USA In this March 15, 2016, file photo, Dallas Seavey poses with his
ing in Arlington, Texas. USA Gymnastics has filed a Chapter 11 Gymnastics were more lead dogs Reef, left, and Tide after finishing the Iditarod Trail
bankruptcy petition on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, as it attempts than it was capable of Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska.
to reach settlements in the dozens of sex-abuse lawsuits it fac- Associated Press
es and to forestall its potential demise at the hands of the U.S. overcoming as currently
Olympic Committee. constructed. Iditarod clears four-
Associated Press Carson said the legal ma-
neuvering Wednesday de-
USA GYMNASTICS not the case, stressing that lays the USOC's efforts to time champion in
Continued from Page 17 the filing is based on legal strip its designation as a na-
Carson said the insurance expediency, not fiscal dis- tional governing body. dog-doping scandal
companies "are aware tress. "We always have a dia-
we're taking this action and While Carson acknowl- logue going with them
our expectation is they will edged that sponsorship is and intend to make it clear ANCHORAGE, Alaska sled dogs, sees no benefit
come to the table and pay down since the first women with them we have a lot to (AP) — Iditarod officials in administering tramadol
on our coverage." came forward against Nas- talk about and we want to have cleared a four-time during a race because it
Carson added: "This is not a sar in the fall of 2016, she keep that going," she said. champion of any wrong- causes drowsiness. Olson,
liquidation. This is a reorga- described the financial USOC spokesman Patrick doing in a dog-doping who was the head veteri-
nization." condition of USA Gymnas- Sandusky said the commit- scandal that followed the narian in the Yukon Quest
John Manly, an attorney tics as "stable." tee is reviewing the filing's sled dog race last year. International Sled Dog
representing dozens of USA Gymnastics reported potential effect on decer- Officials for the 1,000-mile Race in the 1990s, pre-
women who have pending assets in a range of $50 mil- tification. "Financial stability (1,610 kilometer) Iditarod scribes it mostly for pro-
lawsuits against USA Gym- lion to $100 million and a and viability are essential Trail Sled Dog Race issued found pain relief.
nastics, chastised the orga- similar range of liabilities, for a national governing a statement this week "But I also caution that
nization for continuing to with 1,000 to 5,000 credi- body to operate in the best absolving musher Dallas the dogs are going to be-
"inflict unimaginable pain tors. The organization said interests of the athletes," Seavey of any involve- come sedated from it,"
on survivors" and encour- its largest unsecured credi- Sandusky said. ment in the drugging of she said.
aged law enforcement tor is former president and USA Gymnastics believes his dogs, the Anchorage "So when I first heard ...
officials to "redouble" their CEO Steve Penny, who bankruptcy protects it from Daily News reported . that it was tramadol as
investigative efforts. is owed $339,999.96. USA having opportunities or as- Four of Seavey's dogs test- the drug, I thought, 'Well,
"Today's bankruptcy filing Gymnastics is disputing sets taken away by a debt- ed positive for tramadol, that's surprising. Why
by USA Gymnastics was the Penny's claim, though at- or. Carson acknowledged an opioid painkiller and would anybody use that?'
inevitable result of the in- torney Cathy Steege de- that being a national gov- banned substance, fol- "
ability of this organization clined to get into the spe- erning body "is a big part of lowing his second-place "We met with him multiple
to meet its core responsi- cific nature of the dispute. how we raise our revenue." finish in March 2017. Some times and there was (suf-
bility of protecting its ath- Penny resigned under Carson, who replaced Kar- Alaska veterinarians have ficient) evidence to con-
lete members from abuse," pressure from the USOC en Golz as chairwoman last questioned why anyone clude he didn't have any-
Manly said in a statement. in March 2017. Two other week, said she accepted would administer the drug thing to do with it," said
"The leadership of USA presidents — Kerry Perry the position because she during the race because Mike Mills, president of Idi-
Gymnastics has proven it- and former U.S. Rep. Mary believes in the direction of it may cause drowsiness. tarod's board of directors.
self to be both morally and Bono — have followed in USA Gymnastics, which she Jeanne Olson, an Alaska Mills declined to say what
financially bankrupt." what has become a revolv- said doesn't need money
USA Gymnastics insists that's ing door amid the organi- but rather time.q veterinarian who treats that evidence was.q