Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for Hilton(NEW YORK) — USA Gymnastics on Thursday announced that it will cut ties with the Karolyi Ranch, the training ground for the country’s elite gymnasts and one of the sites where former team doctor Larry Nassar sexually assaulted gymnasts.
“It has been my intent to terminate this agreement since I began as president and CEO in December,” said Kerry Perry. “Our most important priority is our athletes, and their training environment must reflect this.”
“We have cancelled next week’s training camp for the U.S. women’s national team,” Perry added. “We are exploring alternative sites to host training activities and camps until a permanent location is determined.”
Gold medalist Simone Biles has said in recent days that Nassar abused her at the Karolyi ranch, and questioned why she should return there to train.
“It is impossibly difficult to relive these experiences and it breaks my heart even more to think that as I work towards my dream of competing in Tokyo 2020, I will have to continually return to the same training facility where I was abused,” Biles wrote.
Nassar pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct in November. More than 150 women have accused him of assault.
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