US Olympic Committee chairman resigns for ‘health reasons’ amid Nassar sex abuse case

News ID: 20024

World » World

Publish Date: 10:54 - 01 March 2018

Font Size

US Olympic Committee chairman resigns for ‘health reasons’ amid Nassar sex abuse case

TEHRAN, MARCH 1-US Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Scott Blackmun has stepped down from his post, citing ongoing health issues. His resignation takes place amidst the ongoing scandal of the USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar.

US Olympic Committee chairman resigns for ‘health reasons’ amid Nassar sex abuse case TEHRAN,Young Journalists Club(YJC) -US Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO Scott Blackmun has stepped down from his post, citing ongoing health issues. His resignation takes place amidst the ongoing scandal of the USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar.

The USOC made the critical decision just a week after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics ended. The committee was under intense pressure to either fire Blackmun or have him resign after the sex scandal involving former Michigan State University doctor Nassar broke in September 2016.

Blackmun became the organization’s CEO on January 6, 2010. However, multiple issues, including the scandal and a prolonged bout with prostate cancer, have forced him to resign. Several of Nassar’s victims stated that the bureau routinely ignored their pleas.

Interim CEO Susanne Lyons will replace Blackmun until a permanent chair is appointed. Lyon has served as a USOC board member since 2010 and was selected last January to direct a working group charged with handling problems stemming from the Nassar probe.

The US Olympic committee has released an official press statementdetailing the situation.

"Given Scott's current health situation, we have mutually agreed it is in the best interest of both Scott and the USOC that we identify new leadership so that we can immediately address the urgent initiatives ahead of us," USOC chair Larry Probst stated. “The important work that Scott started needs to continue and will require especially vigorous attention in light of Larry Nassar’s decades-long abuse of athletes affiliated with USA Gymnastics.”

“We will be working with key stakeholders to help identify a permanent successor to Scott. In the meantime, I am confident that Susanne is the right person to help us navigate this critical transition period,” he continued.

Source:RT

Share to

Young journalists club

US Olympic Committee chairman resigns for ‘health reasons’ amid Nassar sex abuse case

China’s EXIM inks $1.5bn deal for high-speed rail in Iran (1 Comment)