Biles calls out USA Gymnastics, asks for independent Nassar investigation
American gymnastics star Simone Biles called out her sport's national governing body amid pressure from the American gymnastics community to launch an independent investigation into the sex abuse scandal centered on former team doctor Larry Nassar.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most decorated gymnast of all time, @simonebiles! We know you will only continue to amaze us and make history! ✨🎉🥇👑 pic.twitter.com/Z8eW4fsC4s
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) March 14, 2020
"How about you amaze me and do the right thing ... have an independent investigation," the 23-year-old Biles wrote in response to the birthday tweet.
Biles has long called upon USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to launch an independent investigation into the longtime serial abuse of gymnastics athletes at the hands of people in positions of power within the organization.
And don’t THEY also want to know HOW everything was allowed to happen and WHO let it happen so it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN? Shouldn’t people be held accountable? Who do I ask??? I’m torn at this point....
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) February 29, 2020
In January 2018, Biles announced she had been sexually abused by Nassar. At that time, over 265 of Nassar's victims had been identified, Michigan judge Janice Cunningham said, according to BBC News.
In addition to being chief medical coordinator for USA Gymnastics from 1996-14, Nassar was also faculty at Michigan State, where he was employed as an osteopathic physician.
The now-56-year-old Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in 2017 on child pornography and obstruction of justice charges related to his decades-long sexual abuse. State convictions have brought hundreds of years of additional sentences as well.
Aly Raisman, a survivor of Nassar's sexual abuse, agreed with her 2016 Olympic teammate, posting a screenshot of the interaction on Instagram with the caption: "This. Is. AWESOME. (Simone Biles) I love you!!!!"
Rachael Denhollander, the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State athlete who in 2016 became the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, echoed the sentiment as well.
"When one of the greatest athletes of all time says this," she wrote. "Come on USAG and USOPC. We're all done with lip service."