ESPN Former USA gymnast sues doctor and coaches for sexual abuse Related

Oct 27, 2016

A former member of the USA Gymnastics team filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against Dr. Larry Nassar in California Supreme Court, alleging that the longtime USA Gymnastics physician sexually assaulted her during the medical examinations and that the legendary former coaches, Bela and Marta Karolyi did not protect her and applied their own pattern of physical and emotional abuse. The lawsuit also alleges that high-ranking officials at USA Gymnastics had "extensive knowledge" of the abuse, but for years "concealed and ignored it," allowing both Nassar and the Karolyis.

The claims against Nassar closely resemble those made by another former gymnast, a 2000 Olympic medalist, who sued Nassar and others in early September. Both lawsuits claim that Nassar sexually assaulted multiple members of the team, though the earlier lawsuit does not include specific allegations against the Karolyis.

The woman who filed her lawsuit Thursday, is now 24 years old and was a member of the US women's gymnastics team from 2004 to 2010, when she was between the ages of 12 and 18, and is identified in the lawsuit by the alias "Jane Doe".

Defendants listed in the lawsuit, filed in California Supreme Court in Los Angeles County, also include the Karolyi, USA Gymnastics, its current president Steve Penny, its former president Robert Colarossi, and the coaches themselves. particulars of the gymnast, Galina Marinova and Artur Akopyan.

The sexual assault is alleged to have taken place at the notorious Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas, about an hour north of Houston. Since 2001, the farm has served as the training site for the US Women's National Gymnastics Team.

The lawsuit alleges that Nassar would interact with the teen "under the guise of providing her with the care and treatment necessary for her to compete as a world-class, medal-winning gymnast." According to the lawsuit, the doctor informed her "of the need for an 'intravaginal tightening,' a fictitious method during which Nassar would digitally penetrate Plaintiff's vagina to adjust her bones. This 'intravaginal tightening' was done without gloves or lubricants and without the presence of an escort, and was performed for [Nassar's] own sexual gratification."

The lawsuit also alleges that Bela and Marta Karolyi "turned a blind eye to Nassar's sexual abuse of the girls on the farm" and "instituted a regime of intimidation and fear on the farm for the underage girls." who were in his custody."

Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Bela and Marta Karolyi of:

•Beating gymnasts, scratching them until they bled, and encouraging fathers to beat their daughters.

•Deprive gymnasts of food and water and search gymnasts' rooms to find and confiscate hidden food.

•Shouting obscenities at gymnasts, calling them fat and requiring them to remove their underwear so their physical appearance could be judged in front of their peers.

When "Outside the Lines" reached Marta Karolyi by phone Thursday at her Texas farm, she replied, "If it's for any legal matter, I have no comment on that." She refused to say anything else.

The other defendants, including Nassar and USA Gymnastics, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The lawsuit claims that Nassar, as a doctor, and USA Gymnastics, as his employer, were obligated to report such abusive behavior.

"What we're really saying is that the farm was a toxic environment for these girls and a perfect place for a pedophile to operate," said John Manly, the attorney for both former U.S. gymnasts who have sued Nassar.

"[Bela and Marta Karolyi] had an obligation to make sure their environment was safe and they failed miserably. These were girls and they were left alone with this man, who turned out to be a sexual predator," Manly added.

In July, USA Gymnastics announced that it had acquired the ranch from the Karolyis, which since 2011 had been known as the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch. In a press release announcing the acquisition, USA Gymnastics said, "Athletes of all ages and skill levels are impressed by the prestige and tradition that this [Karolyi Ranch] farm represents, and we are excited to continue its legacy of success".

The lawsuit alleges that the Karolyis allowed Nassar "unrestricted and solitary access to minor girls, including Plaintiff, in the girls' living rooms and bedrooms," a violation of USA Gymnastics' own policies.

"Prior to the sexual assaults, Nassar would groom these minor girls into believing he was their friend and confidante," the lawsuit alleges, in contrast to "[the Karolyi's] oppressive and abusive treatment," surreptitiously giving gymnasts food, sweets and other "contrabands" to gain their trust.

"He created this relationship so that he could sexually abuse these minors, including Plaintiff," the lawsuit alleges.

Always according to the lawsuit, the Karolyis were permissive with Nassar, establishing a kind of mutual retribution with him: By turning a "blind eye to Nassar's sexual abuse of girls on the farm," the lawsuit claims, they made sure that he would never denounce them for their abuses.

Affirmed Manly, "Bela and Marta Karolyi kept Nassar because he agreed to keep their secrets, and when you have secrets in an environment where there are children, pedophiles thrive there."

The lawsuit also alleges that Robert Colarossi, president of USA Gymnastics from 1998 to 2005, and Steve Penny, the organization's president since 2005 "oversaw an extensive and calculated cover-up of numerous instances, complaints, and allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct." ".

Bela Karolyi, the former Romanian gymnastics coach, became famous for coaching 1976 gold medalist Nadia Comaneci. After defecting and immigrating to the United States with his wife Marta in 1981, Karolyi went on to train a string of American Olympic gold medalists, beginning with Mary Lou Retton in 1984.

In 1999, he was appointed Coordinator of the US National Team, a role that would later be assumed by his wife, Marta, in 2001 until their retirement after the Rio Olympics. Marta was highly praised during the recent Summer Olympics for achieving resounding success with the US women's team, as they came back with nine Rio medals, including team gold.

Nassar, 53, an osteopathic physician, worked with the US Women's Gymnastics team from 1986 to 2015, first as a coach and then, beginning in 1996, as the team's physician. He was part of the Karolyi Ranch, where he treated dozens of elite level gymnasts.

Nassar was fired by USA Gymnastics in the summer of 2015 after officials received complaints of sexual misconduct during medical exams.

In a statement released last month, USA Gymnastics said, "Immediately upon learning of athlete complaints about Dr. Nassar in the summer of 2015, Steve Penny, USA Gymnastics president and CEO, notified law enforcement." "We also removed Dr. Nassar from his role and he is no longer a USA Gymnastics member."

Penny declined to comment to "Outside the Lines," but a USA Gymnastics spokeswoman acknowledged that Penny reported the allegations against Nassar to the FBI.

Despite being fired by USA Gymnastics, Nassar continued to practice medicine at his former college, Michigan State, where he had been on the faculty and as a physician since August 1997. He also continued in his role as team doctor for the Twistars Gymnastic Club USA in Michigan and as a volunteer for the high school gymnastics team in nearby Holt.

That all changed last August.

On August 29, Rachel Denhollander filed a complaint with Michigan State University police, alleging that Nassar had sexually abused her during a physical in 2000, when Denhollander was a club-level gymnast, 15 years old. Denhollander, who had initially told her story to the Indianapolis Star, declined to comment to "Outside the Lines."

One day after receiving Denhollander's criminal complaint, Michigan State University suspended Nassar from further treating patients at the college's sports medical offices. He was fired by the university on September 20. He is also no longer in his position at Holt High School. A Twistar employee told "Outside the Lines" that Nassar previously worked for the club as a volunteer, but had stopped doing so a few months ago and "doesn't come to the gym anymore."

"Outside the Lines" has learned that Denhollander's police complaint was the first of dozens filed with Michigan State University police.

"We have received multiple additional complaints and continue to receive more complaints," said Jason Cody, a spokesman for Michigan State University. Although Cody did not specify the number of complaints against Nassar -- or whether they were from gymnasts or other patients -- federal crime records revealed to "Outside the Lines" that more than 30 allegations of criminal sexual conduct had been filed since late August in connection with addresses where Nassar was seeing patients, near the main State University campus of Michigan, in East Lansing.

"About 20 other girls and women have come to us alleging abuse by Dr. Nassar," Manly said.

Nassar has not been criminally charged.

However, it is being investigated in Michigan. Earlier this month, the state attorney general's office took up this increasingly ramifications case, citing its "complex" nature, which spans different jurisdictions in Michigan and possibly other states.

"No one can predict the time frame in which he could be charged," Matt Newburg, Nassar's defense attorney, told "Outside the Lines," adding that in Michigan there is no statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct in first grade. Newburg and his co-counsel, Shannon Smith, declined to comment on the growing number of criminal and civil lawsuits against their client.

In the previous civil lawsuit, filed by a member of the 2000 women's gymnastics team, Nassar was accused of committing similar assaults while the team was traveling to competition.

The former Olympian said in the lawsuit that Nassar had begun "grooming" her when she first joined the team in 1994 and that he would "pat and fondle [hers] feet, ankles, thighs, buttocks, hips , waist, breasts... and neck, giving [her] the impression that these inappropriate contacts were part of the treatment."

She also stated that Nassar openly discussed inappropriate topics during her treatments.

"[Nassar] would tell the minor Plaintiff that other gymnasts would perform oral sex on her and describe in detail the process and other explicit and bizarre sexual advances," the lawsuit states.

During treatment, the September lawsuit claims, Nassar would "insert his bare hand into Plaintiff's vagina and anus, at various locations, in Plaintiff's assigned room, while she lay on the edge of the her bed, alone and without any supervision from a companion". Similar to the lawsuit filed Thursday, Nassar is alleged to have told the gymnast that he would be performing a medical procedure called an "intravaginal tightening."

The exams were conducted without gloves or lubricant and without the presence of an escort, the lawsuit claims.

"Our belief is that he was performing a medical treatment that was taught and studied and common," Newburg, Nassar's attorney, said when questioned about the allegations in the September lawsuit. He spoke to "Outside the Lines" before Thursday's lawsuit was filed.

Doctors interviewed by "Outside the Lines" say intravaginal and intrarectal treatments have been used for decades to treat medical problems such as pelvic floor dysfunction, which can occur when the pelvic floor muscles are weak or tight, and interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder syndrome.

"Under the right circumstances, this is the optimal type of therapy," said Kristene Whitmore, chair and professor of urology, pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at the Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

Whitmore said she has used the treatment on her patients for more than 30 years. While she's never had to apply such treatment to a gymnast, Whitmore said "I wouldn't be surprised to hear of an Olympic-level gymnast needing that type of treatment."

"But there's no way we're doing this without gloves or examining a minor without an escort. Everything is supervised and our physical therapists wear gloves. Every time," Whitmore said.

"People who have chronic pelvic pain can get help," Whitmore said, "but it's also a matter of how you explain to the patient what the problem is and why you're going to do this kind of treatment."

Nassar was first investigated for sexual misconduct in April 2014 at Michigan State University, when a former student filed "an allegation of abuse during a medical procedure," according to a statement released by the institution. But it appears USA Gymnastics was unaware of that 2014 investigation.

"Our police did an investigation. Then they referred it to the prosecutor's office and the prosecutor decided not to press charges," said Cody, the spokesman for Michigan State University.

Nassar was temporarily suspended from clinical duties at Michigan State University during that 2014 investigation, but a USA Gymnastics spokeswoman said the university never notified the sport's governing body.

"In 2014, Michigan State University investigated something and we never got a call back," said Leslie King, USA Gymnastics Vice President of Communications. In a letter dated July 8, 2014, Nassar notified USA Gymnastics that he was resigning from the position of National Medical Coordinator, but would continue to serve as team doctor for the women's artistic gymnastics program until the summer of 2015.

The lawsuit filed in September by the former Olympian alleges that USA Gymnastics "knew or should have known that [Nassar] had engaged in unlawful conduct of a sexual nature in the past." The most recent lawsuit raised similar complaints.

Just as Michigan State University failed to inform USA Gymnastics of its investigation of Nassar in 2014, the reverse happened in the summer of 2015 when members of the women's national team notified USA Gymnastics of Nassar's possible sexual misconduct.

USA Gymnastics never alerted Michigan State University to the lawsuits against Nassar, according to Cody, the university spokesman. "Anyone of them could have picked up the phone. It's just the classic case of, 'We want to keep this in reserve,'" attorney Manly said.

"USA Gymnastics has fully cooperated with law enforcement since we first notified them of the matter, including -- at their request -- by refraining from making any other statements or taking any other action that could interfere with agency's investigation," USA Gymnastics said in a Sept. 12 statement.

Although the allegations against Nassar were only recently made public, first through a series of articles published in the Indianapolis Star, the allegations of abusive conduct by the Karolyis are not new.

In her 2012 memoir, Dominique Moceanu, who was a 14-year-old member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in 1996, alleged that Marta Karoly physically abused her, grabbing her by the neck and causing her to be beaten. her face against a phone and that Bela Karolyi shamed her for her physique, criticizing her for her weight and forcing her to climb a ladder in front of her teammates.

"I have tremendous respect and admiration for these brave women who dare to share their stories," Dominique Moceanu told "Outside the Lines Thursday." "It is essential -- and a priority very close to my heart -- that our athletes are safe and secure. If changes are required for that to happen, then they will need to be addressed as soon as possible."

In 2008, former Romanian national team member Emilia Eberle told KCRA-TV in Sacramento that Bela Karolyi physically abused her, beating her head and body multiple times while training for the 1976 Romanian Olympic team .

Gymnastics choreographer Geza Pozsar, who for nearly two decades was an integral part of the Karolyi Ranch, told "Outside the Lines" that he witnessed abuse of Eberle, Moceanu and other gymnasts who trained at the ranch.

"I have enormous regret for having been part of a system that was so brutal," Pozsar said.

Pozsar said she never saw Bela Karolyi beat up female gymnasts in the United States, but confirmed to "Outside the Lines" a detailed account in Moceanu's book, in which she describes being physically punished by her father. , for having secretly brought food to his room, while Bela and Marta Karolyi watched without intervening.

Pozsar said he was not aware of any sexual abuse by Nassar at the Karolyi Ranch.

The former US national team member who filed Thursday's lawsuit says she paid a heavy price for pursuing her Olympic dreams. The lawsuit alleges that she has struggled with depression, panic attacks and eating disorders as a direct result of the abuse to which Nassar and the Karolyis subjected her.

John Barr is a reporter for ESPN's Enterprise Unit. He can be reached at John.A.Barr@espn.com. Follow him @JohnBarrESPN. Caitlin Stanco, Producer for Enterprise Unit, contributed to this report.