USA gymnastics star Simone Biles, "also abused" by former national team doctor Larry Nassar
US national doctor: I was harassing patients
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September 15, 2021 There were hard and painful testimonies, often interrupted by tears, those of the Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics, Simone Biles and her companions, who found the strength to speak publicly, in front of the Senate, about the sexual abuse suffered for years as athletes of the American national team.
Biles opened the hearings and accused the federation and the FBI of turning away. "I am a victim of sexual abuse - he said, through tears - and the circumstances that led to this and let it continue are directly linked to the fact that the organizations created by Congress to protect me as an athlete, have not done theirs. work".
The champion reiterated the accusations against Larry Nassar, the osteopath of the national gymnastics team sentenced to 176 years in prison for abusing more than 500 athletes during his sessions, but has pointed the finger at the American Olympic and Paralympic committees.
The FBI itself, which was aware of the abuses, had not intervened.
One of the agents, Michael Langeman, was fired after the results of an investigation launched by the Justice Department.
Another athlete, Aly Raisman, carried on her emotional testimony: "To be here today is to carry everything I have. I hope I have the strength to walk out of here. The FBI has made me feel as if my abuse didn't matter, as if it wasn't a big issue. " "Those who have not investigated Nassar - added Biles - must be prosecuted at the federal level".
White House Spokesperson: "Incredibly Powerful Testimonials"
The testimony of the US gymnasts, before the Senate, on the sexual abuse they suffered for years when they were athletes of the American national team, was "incredibly powerful": said the spokesman of the White House, Jen Psaki, during the briefing. "All these brave women came forward and talked about the abuse suffered by a monstrous human being."