Simone Biles and three other gymnasts and former gymnasts testified in the US Senate about the abuse committed by former team doctor Larry Nassar. The former gymnastics doctor has been incarcerated for several years, but an investigation into the FBI’s actions in the abuse case is still ongoing.
Biles and other athletes expressed their anger and impotence over the FBI’s conduct at the time before a special commission of inquiry. “We have all been wronged and deserve an answer. We all feel that the FBI has turned a blind eye,” an emotional Biles testified during the hearing. Also in attendance were Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols.
Biles added: “I’m here because I don’t want others to go through this”. The champion further indicated that she still suffers from the abuse.
FBI intervened too late
Maroney confirmed the allegations of four-time Olympic champion Biles. “Not only did the FBI ignore the abuse for months, they falsified my testimony,” said Maroney, herself a two-time jump world champion. Despite their testimonies, the gymnasts accuse the police for not having intervened in time, which allowed the abuse to continue longer.
FBI Director Chris Wray apologized for the police action. He also said that the agents involved in the investigation into the abuse no longer work for the FBI.
Destructive Report
A damning report was released last July by Justice Department Inspector Horowitz. It said the FBI agency in Indianapolis “has not responded with the utmost seriousness and urgency to the allegations against Nassar.” Numerous errors, the report concluded, allowed the sexually transgressive behavior to continue for months.
Nassar was a USA Gymnastics doctor for 18 years. An investigation into him was launched in 2015 and two years later he was sentenced to 175 years in prison for sexual abuse. Nassar was also convicted of possessing child pornography. Hundreds of (former) athletes testified against the sports doctor.
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