{"id":298523,"date":"2018-02-28T14:14:59","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T21:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=298523"},"modified":"2018-02-28T16:03:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-28T23:03:10","slug":"under-fire-scott-blackmun-resigns-from-usoc-citing-heath-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/under-fire-scott-blackmun-resigns-from-usoc-citing-heath-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Under-Fire Scott Blackmun Resigns from USOC Citing Heath Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the wake of calls for his departure, Scott Blackmun<\/strong> is resigning as CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, citing health problems. Blackmun, 60, was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few months ago and was unable to attend the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.<\/p>\n

The USOC is conducting an independent review of when Blackmun and other key Olympic leaders learned the details about abuse cases at USA Gymnastics and within USA Swimming and whether they responded appropriately.<\/p>\n

Shortly before the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics, USOC chairman\u00a0Larry Probst\u00a0<\/strong>said \u201cthat no decision on Mr. Blackmun\u2019s future would be made until the completion of an independent investigation,\u201d\u00a0according to the\u00a0New York Times<\/em><\/a>, but Blackmun’s resignation is immediate. Probts did\u00a0 defend Blackmun at that press conference\u00a0commenting that he had \u201cserved the USOC with distinction\u201d and that \u201cwe think that he did what he was supposed to do and did the right thing at every turn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shortly before the Olympics, a group called \u201cThe Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOC\u201d sent a 14-page memo to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce demanding Blackmun’s resignation for negligence in cases of sexual abuse<\/a>. It’s unclear\u00a0to what extent the outside pressure to resign, along with his ongoing health issues, contributed to Blackmun’s decision.<\/p>\n

Susanne<\/strong> Lyons<\/strong>, a member of the USOC board, will serve as acting CEO.<\/p>\n

Read more from the USOC press release:<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven Scott\u2019s current health situation, we have mutually agreed it is in the best interest of both Scott and the USOC that we identify new leadership so that we can immediately address the urgent initiatives ahead of us,\u201d said USOC Chairman Larry Probst in a news release. \u201cThe USOC is at a critical point in its history. The important work that Scott started needs to continue and will require especially vigorous attention in light of Larry Nassar\u2019s decades-long abuse of athletes affiliated with USA Gymnastics. We will be working with key stakeholders to help identify a permanent successor to Scott. In the meantime, I am confident that Susanne is the right person to help us navigate this critical transition period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blackmun served as CEO since 2010. He was the driving force behind many of the improvements the USOC has made to help protect athletes \u2013 notably the establishment of the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the development of the SafeSport initiative. Blackmun also led the effort to bring the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games back to the United States, ensured record financial support for Team USA athletes, renegotiated the USOC\u2019s revenue sharing agreement with the International Olympic Committee, and substantially enhanced the USOC\u2019s presence and influence in the global Olympic Movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cServing the USOC and its many stakeholders and working with our board, our professional staff and many others who support the Olympic and Paralympic movements has not only been immensely rewarding, it has been an honor and the highlight of my professional life,\u201d Blackmun said. \u201cI am proud of what we have achieved as a team and am confident that Susanne will help the USOC continue to embody the Olympic spirit and champion Team USA athletes during this transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

In January, Lyons was selected as chair of the USOC board\u2019s working group addressing issues the Nassar case has brought to light. Since then, she has been leading the USOC\u2019s efforts to ensure a process that is independent, transparent, sensitive and accessible. Lyons has been serving as an independent director to the USOC board of directors since December 2010.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we are eager to review the findings of the independent investigation, the USOC is taking important actions now based on what we already know,\u201d Lyons said. \u201cWe are evaluating the USOC\u2019s role and oversight of all the National Governing Bodies, considering potential changes to the Olympic structure and aggressively exploring new ways to enhance athlete safety and help prevent and respond to abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The USOC also announced significant changes to further protect athletes:<\/p>\n