Gymnastics scandal: Aly Raisman sues US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics

Washington D.C. [USA], Mar. 03 (ANI): US Olympic Committee was aware that Former Michigan State and United States' gymnastic team physician Larry Nassar had molested gymnasts who participated with USA Gymnastics, alleged Olympic gold-winning gymnast Aly Raisman.

She also filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court in California against the US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, disgraced doctor Larry Nassar and others over the allegation, reported CNN.

The complaints said that Nassar sexually abused Raisman, two-time Olympian who won medals in London and Rio de Janeiro, at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas, national and international competitions and the 2012 London Olympics.

"My highest priority has been to push for change, so future generations of athletes will be safer," Raisman said in a statement.

"It has become painfully clear that these organisations have no intention of properly addressing this problem. After all this time, they remain unwilling to conduct a full investigation, and without a solid understanding of how this happened, it is delusional to think sufficient changes can be implemented."

"Meanwhile, thousands of young athletes continue to train and compete every day in this same broken system. I refuse to wait any longer for these organisations to do the right thing. It is my hope that the legal process will hold them accountable and enable the change that is so desperately needed."

In a statement, Raisman's attorney, John Manly, accused the USOC and USA Gymnastics of "a conspiracy to silence victims and cover up the largest child sex abuse scandal in history."

"A simple fact is this: If USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee had followed their own bylaws, policies and procedures designed to protect children from sexual abuse, Ms. Raisman never would have met him, never would have been 'treated' by him and never would have been molested by him," Manly said.

"Instead they conspired to hide their knowledge of Nassar's horrible crimes from the public and attempted to frighten Ms. Raisman and other victims into keeping quiet. USOC and USAG can and will be made accountable by our justice system."

Declining to comment on Raisman's lawsuit, USA Gymnastics offered support to athletes who have been abused by Nassar.

"USA Gymnastics is committed to doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again by making bold decisions and holding ourselves to the highest standards of care," it said in a statement.

Larry Nassar was sentenced to life imprisonment after he admitted to sexually abusing and molesting girls and women, who were receiving treatment from him. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI