US Olympic to dissolve USA Gymnastics

The United States Olympic Committee said it had begun moves to disband the country's governing body for gymnastics in the aftermath of the sport's devastating sexual abuse scandal, a statement said.

USOC chief executive Sarah Hirshland on Monday said in a statement Olympic chiefs had started proceedings to revoke USA Gymnastics' status as the official governing body for the sport in the United States.

In an open letter addressed to US gymnasts, Hirshland said USA Gymnastics had failed to "change its culture, to rebuild its leadership, and to effectively serve its membership."