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Top U.S. Olympic Committee Official Fired for Nassar Silence

USOC Chief of Sport Performance Alan Ashley did not take action against Nassar for over a year, according to a report.

The U.S. Olympic Committee’s Chief of Sport Performance Alan Ashley was fired Monday after a report revealed he “failed to take action” against disgraced national team doctor Larry Nassar for over a year after learning about his sexual-abuse allegations, USA Today reports. USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky confirmed Ashley was dismissed by CEO Sarah Hirshland Monday afternoon, after Hirshland was notified that an investigation by a law firm found that Ashley did not act against Nassar for 13 and a half months after he became aware of the allegations. Law firm Ropes & Gray was reportedly hired by the USOC in February to probe when “USA Gymnastics and USOC officials first became aware of evidence of Nassar’s abuse” and what subsequent actions they took. According to the newspaper, Ashley was tasked with overseeing all of USOC’s divisions that give “resources and support to the national governing bodies and top athletes competing internationally,” including services like “sports medicine.” Ashley was also reportedly one of the highest-paid officials at the USOC, receiving $720,000 in 2017.