Bipartisan E&C Leaders Probe Amateur Athletic Union Regarding Sexual Abuse Allegations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., (NJ-06), along with Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) and Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Chairman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), sent a letter to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) regarding recent allegations of sexual abuse within the organization.

The letter requests documents and information about the number of allegations and reports of abuse, procedures for investigating complaints of abuse, enforcement of suspensions and bans against coaches, and the organization’s administration of child safety and abuse training. The letter also requests that the AAU provide the Committee with a briefing on this matter.

KEY EXCERPTS:

“ProPublica’s reporting describes numerous abuse cases involving AAU coaches that occurred even after the organization’s updated child protection policies were reportedly put in place in 2012.”

“It is unacceptable that AAU is failing to implement standard reforms to protect child athletes and is misleading the public, parents, and athletes about preventative measures in place within AAU sports.”

BACKGROUND:

• The AAU has almost 800,000 athletes participating in more than 50 sports programs across the United States. ProPublica and the Washington Post’s investigation highlighted multiple instances of the AAU failing to properly prevent and address athlete abuse.
• The ProPublica and Washington Post report found that the AAU:
  • Falsely claimed to offer child abuse prevention training;
  • Does not mandate coaches take the training it does provide;
  • “Has become a haven for coaches suspected of abuse”; and
  • Did not abide by its 2012 pledge to enforce the use of lists of banned and suspended coaches accused or found guilty of misconduct in other organizations.
• Past Energy and Commerce Committee investigations into sexual abuse in the Olympic and Paralympic movement led to significant reforms, including the creation of a publicly searchable database of suspended or banned individuals.

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

CLICK HERE to read ProPublica and the Washington Post’s reporting on the allegations.