USA Gymnastics leaders resign under pressure amid Nassar sex-abuse furor

Three leaders of USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the Olympic sport, resigned under pressure Monday after months of criticism stemming from the sex-abuse scandal over former team doctor Larry Nassar.

Board of directors Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley stepped down nearly 10 months after former president and chief executive Steve Penny was forced out.

“We support their decisions to resign at this time,” said the current president and CEO, Kerry Perry. “We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization.

“As the board identifies its next chair and fills the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure that our culture, policies and actions reflect our commitment to those we serve.”

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USA Gymnastics is under fire for its handling of sexual abuse allegations. Gregory Bull / AP

USA Gymnastics has been under fire from some of the biggest names in the sport — Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber — who say they were molested by Nassar.

The organization, which selects the national and Olympic teams, was accused of trying to keep a lid on the scandal, waiting five weeks to alert the FBI to a gymnast’s complaint, failing to notify Michigan State University that one of its doctors had been accused, and having Maroney sign a secrecy agreement as part of a settlement.

In a victim impact statement at Nassar’s sentencing hearing in Michigan, Raisman told Perry she had inherited a organization that was “rotting from the inside.”

“While this may not be what you thought you were getting into, you will be judged by how you deal with it,” she said.

“A word of advice — continuing to issue empty statements of empty promises, thinking that will pacify us, will no longer work.”

“U.S.A. Gymnastics, where is the honesty?” she continued. “Where is the transparency? Why must the manipulation continue?”