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Tuesday 11 december 2018

Report: USOC and others delayed in response to Nassar

By EDDIE PELLS number of Nassar victims
AP National Writer — including 180 being rep-
DENVER (AP) — An inde- resented by attorney John
pendent report details a Manly — refused to partici-
toxic pattern of bureau- pate because Manly didn’t
cratic paralysis among believe the report was
Olympic leaders who re- completely independent
acted slowly, if at all, after of the USOC.
they knew Larry Nassar was “That being said, it is a
suspected of molesting stinging indictment of the
young gymnasts. highest levels of the lead-
From the top office at the ership of the United States
U.S. Olympic Committee to Olympic Committee for
FBI bureaus in three cities their role in the cover-up
to what was essentially an (of) the largest sex-abuse
unchecked, rogue opera- scandal in the history of
tion at the Karolyi Ranch sports,” Manly said.
in Texas, nobody stepped Among the conclusions:
in quickly enough to stifle — Blackmun didn’t report
Nassar’s crimes, the report the allegations to either the
concludes . USOC board or anyone on
That delay ultimately gave his staff. When asked about
Nassar more than a full year In this Oct. 1, 2013, file photo, Alan Ashley, chief of sport performance with the U.S. Olympic the Nassar case by chief
to abuse athletes after the Committee, speaks with reporters during a news conference in Park City, Utah. security officer Larry Buen-
first allegations surfaced. Associated Press dorf, who had received
The USOC swiftly fired sports notifying Blackmun and these types of situations young women. Nassar is word separately from Pen-
performance chief Alan Ashley of Nassar’s deci- should be escalated,” said serving decades in prison ny, Blackmun told Buen-
Ashley in the wake of Mon- sion to step down from his Susanne Lyons, a board on charges of child por- dorf he was aware of the
day’s release of the 233- volunteer position at USAG member who served as nography and for molest- issue but did not seek fur-
page report from the law in September 2015 — after acting CEO earlier this ing young women and girls ther guidance. Blackmun,
firm Ropes & Gray. One of allegations had surfaced year. “Transparency is im- under the guise of medi- who voluntarily answered
its conclusions was that nei- but before they’d become portant.” cal treatment; many of his questions for the report, ex-
ther Ashley nor Scott Black- widely known — was delet- The report says the USOC, accusers testified in heart- plained he understood the
mun, who resigned in Feb- ed from both executives’ USAG, Michigan State and wrenching detail at his sen- seriousness of the Nassar al-
ruary as CEO of the USOC, accounts. The report sug- the FBI all failed to protect tencing hearing in January. legations but because they
elevated concerns about gests Blackmun was fearful athletes. The failures led to The USOC commissioned involved an “insider” —
alleged abuse when they his email system may have a 14-month period — July the report shortly after the Nassar was well-respected
first learned of them from been vulnerable to Russian 2015 to September 2016 — testimony. More than 100 and had worked with USAG
USA Gymnastics president hacking. during which Nassar, while people were interviewed, for nearly 30 years — the
Steve Penny in July 2015. “One thing we’ve learned still employed at Michigan including some survivors of case was “especially sensi-
And an email from Penny from this experience is that State, continued to molest sexual abuse. But a sizable tive.” q

Raptors go west, Kawhi back to Oracle where so much changed

By BRIAN MAHONEY er championship. Maybe and another potential
AP Basketball Writer Leonard wouldn’t have NBA Finals preview. Leon-
So much changed after wanted to leave. ard scored 37 points on
Kawhi Leonard crashed to “Regardless of the fact, Nov. 29 in Toronto, when
the Oracle Arena floor on would’ve, could’ve, the Raptors overcame a
May 14, 2017. should’ve, we’re here season-high 51 points from
The San Antonio Spurs had now,” said Danny Green, Kevin Durant to win 131-
a 23-point lead on the War- who was traded to Toronto 128 in overtime. Toronto
riors in Game 1 of the West- with Leonard. “And obvi- has the NBA’s best record,
ern Conference finals when ously it would have been but this time would have to
Leonard departed with nice if things went differ- beat the Warriors with Ste-
26 points, poised to take ently then and we would phen Curry and Draymond
away home-court advan- have continued to play Green, who were injured in
tage in the series between and maybe had something the first matchup.
teams who won more than special happen then, but Leonard dealt with injuries
60 games. Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks to shoot as we’re here now so we want for a long time, but he ap-
Leonard injured his ankle Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) and forward Khris to try to make some good pears just about back to
when he landed on Zaza Middleton (22) defend during first-half NBA basketball game things happen now.” where he was at his peak.
Pachulia’s foot after tak- action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Leonard is set to play at Or- Coach Nick Nurse has no-
ing a jump shot, and things Associated Press acle Arena for the first time ticed how Leonard is jump-
were never the same again be followed by a lingering desire to leave San Antonio since his injury on Wednes- ing higher on his dunks and
for the Spurs or Leonard. thigh injury that would limit when he was traded to To- day, again looking like the not coming up short on his
The Spurs couldn’t hold on him to just nine games the ronto in the offseason. player whose team might 3-pointers, and the Raptors
to win that game or any following season and strain If Leonard doesn’t go be the biggest threat to the are close to eliminating all
other in the series with- relations between the down, maybe the Spurs Warriors. the minutes restrictions that
out their All-Star forward, team and player. Leonard win that game, maybe the It’s a rematch of perhaps were in place when the
whose ankle injury would was ultimately granted his series and maybe anoth- the game of the season season started.q