Sex Scandal in British Gymnastics

Nearly 40 British gymnasts have reported incidents of physical and psychological abuse by coaches, as reported by Lenta.ru. The Guardian states that around 40 British athletes have filed lawsuits against the leadership of British Gymnastics, claiming they were subjected to physical and psychological violence by their coaches.

According to the source, the sex scandal erupted in 2015 and continued until last year. Attorney Anne White has stated that she has received applications from nearly 400 individuals, with 39 of them sent to local authorities for the safety of the gymnasts. An investigation is currently underway at all levels of the organization.

In October 2021, Olympic gymnastics champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney urged the U.S. Congress to dissolve the leadership of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees due to the scandal involving doctor Larry Nassar. They believe the committee has not taken steps to combat sexual violence within national teams.

Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison in January and was found guilty of sexual assault. Over 140 athletes have filed charges against him, including Olympic champions Biles, Raisman, Maroney, and Gabby Douglas. The majority of those victimized were minors.