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Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Scandal became a sudden speech point in the middle of setback against Simone Biles to defend trans athletes in women’s sports. Some critics, including Biles ‘goals in her social media, Riley Gaines, pointed to the abuse committed by Nassar while criticizing Biles’ attitude towards Trans athletes.
So on Wednesday, a US Gymnastics spokesman told Pakinomist Digital that the organization’s transgender -benefit eligibility policy and resources were deleted from its website in May to “assess compliance with the current legal landscape.”
The leading lawyer for the American woman’s gymnast, who was influenced by Nassar, John Manly, weighed in on the comparisons between Nassar abuse and biologically male inclusion in women’s sports.
“Larry Nassar became sexual assault of children, it’s basically different,” Manly told Pakinomist Digital.
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From left to right, American Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols arrive to testify during a Senate Judicial Service heard of Inspector General’s Report on the FBI handling of Larry Nassar’s investigation of sexual abuse of Olympic gymnast, at Capitol Hill, in Washington, Dc the 15. 20, 2021. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters)
However, Manly believes that the management of the US Gymnastics and its method of deciding to allow trans athletes in the women’s category is the same type of management method that allowed the Nassar scandal to occur.
“I think that’s exactly right,” Manly said. “[Female gymnasts] is in this position with the trans athlete in the dressing room because of the organizations that create policies. … In the same token, Larry Nassar was created and allowed to flourish because they did not have policies that prevented exactly what he did. He treated little girls in their hotel rooms alone on their beds during the Olympics, there is no policy against it. “
Manly added, “Athletes are not first in this system, they are not. Money and medals are, and the people who run it are first.”
President Donald Trump signed his “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order in February, but the order applies only to institutions receiving federal funding, while US Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USAPC) are private units.
As a lawyer, Manly questioned the validity of the organization’s recent apology for “compliance with the current legal landscape” to erase the political aspects.
“It’s a bunch of rubbish,” Manly said. “These are companies that speak for ‘we are concerned that the political winds have been changed and people see a weak perception of the policy’ and they do not want to become buddies.
“The reason Larry Nassar happened, one is because they didn’t put athletes first, and two because they were slipping around trying to cover it and [it’s] The same thing here. Make a decision, stand out and defend it. “
Former Star Gymnast throwing US Gymnastics for Train
Unlike Nassar, Manly still believes that the blame does not always fall on the transatletes themselves, especially those who are minors. Manly, who has known Biles for several years, believes that the gymnast tried to make a similar point in his recent controversial social media race, but it was “misunderstood.”
“I think it’s a misconception. I think what I suppose what Simone was trying to say is’ We shouldn’t blame children, child athletes, to compete when these organizations allow. But I haven’t talked to her about it … I respect Riley Gaines and obviously I respect and love Simone, and I wish it didn’t happen, but I couldn’t talk to it,”
In December 2021, Manly Biles and colleagues in US Woman’s Gymnast Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichol helped secure a $ 380 million settlement from USA gymnastics and USAPC over Nassar abuse.
Since then, the lawyer has followed the influence of the question on the legal landscape with an eye on Gaines’ lawsuit against NCAA for the inclusion of biologically male Lia “” Thomas in 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming Championship.
“I think it’s really important,” Manly said of Gaines’ litigation’s influence on women’s sports history. “How it plays out will determine if women’s sports will continue, as we know it, or whether it will change … The fact that NCAA hasn’t just owned it and come to a solution with her is shocking to me.”
Manly says he would consider filing his own lawsuit against USAPC if any American Olympi came to him with a legitimate case.
“I wanted to archive them to protect women, to protect female athletes, but I shouldn’t have to file these cases what was going to happen is USAPC to step in and say ‘should protect our athletes, and we want clarity,” he said.
While Manly hopes the policies will be clear and allow fair competition in time for the Los Angeles Olympics, he says he has no “confidence”, the policies will be at that time in the summer of 2028 if the current USOPC leadership remains in power.
“I have no hope for anything with this table,” he said.
