USOC eyes new CEO soon, gymnastics probe results in months

The US Olympic Committee expects to have a new chief executive within weeks and results by summer's end from an independent investigation into its handling of a gymnastics sex abuse scandal.

USOC chairman Larry Probst and acting chief executive Susanne Lyons updated the status of the situations Friday after a USOC board of directors meeting in Washington, where another hearing before US lawmakers is expected next month in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal.

"We're in a period of transition and evolution," Lyons said.

"We've had a chance to look in the mirror and see how we should interact" with athletes and national sport governing bodies.

Former USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun resigned in February after growing pressure about his handling of sexual assault allegations against former US gymnastics team doctor Nassar.

Nassar is serving what is likely a life sentence for sexual assault after more than 250 women accused him of sexual abuse perpetrated under the guise of medical treatment, many of them while they were young Olympians.

Many athletes have questioned the USOC for not doing more sooner to protect athlete safety.

Probst said in February at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that no personnel changes would be made until a Boston law firm completes its probe into how the USOC responded to athlete allegations of wrongdoing by Nassar.

"We think they are gettuing closer to the end of that investigation but we don't have a specific time frame," Probst said.

"We are thinking it will be before the end of the summer."
"We hope to have this wrapped up in a couple of weeks, maybe less."
"They were interested in what progress we have made. The tone was more on a contructive path to let's make athletes safer in the future."