The Amateur Athletic Union is facing heat from Capitol Hill following media reports that it failed to implement pledged reforms and adequately address allegations of sexual abuse within its organization.
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) — the chairman and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, respectively — have sent a letter to AAU leadership saying its alleged shortcomings are "unacceptable," according to The Hill.
The correspondence comes two months after a joint ProPublica-Washington Post report found:
AAU did not implement reforms after 2011 scandal involving ex-CEO
Current official alleges org covered up abuse by another top executive
No child abuse prevention training; other trainings not verified
Pledged abuse reporting hotline does not work
Worked to force claims into confidential arbitration as recently as 2024
AAU does not adhere to U.S. SafeSport banned coaches list like other orgs
On the last point: The letter drew a parallel between the claims surrounding AAU and SafeSport, which was implemented by Congress in 2017 following USA Gymnastics’ Larry Nassar scandal.
“While progress has been made in the Olympic and Paralympic movement, unfortunately we are seeing parallels between what the Committee saw in its prior investigation with what is being uncovered within the AAU today,” Guthrie and Pallone wrote.
Quick Take: Ankored CEO Seth Lieberman said on our recent compliance and safety webinar that he expected there will be federal legislation/standards at some point, but he could not predict how or when. There is a long way to go here, but this could be a catalyst that pushes Congress to do something, whatever that could entail.
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