USA Gymnastics has announced the suspension of John Geddert, who worked with disgraced doctor Larry Nassar—now being sentenced for sexual abuse of more than 150 women, including scores of gymnasts whom he treated—at two different gyms.
Geddert served as head coach of the U.S. women for the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. He brought on Nassar first at his Great Lakes Gymnastics Club and then, starting in 1996, at his current gym, Twistars USA Gymnastics Club. The two were close personal friends for more than 25 years, with Geddert even serving in Nassar’s wedding party, according to ESPN.
Nassar is currently in prison for child pornography and is in the middle of a sentencing hearing that has lasted more than a week, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. USA Gymnastics will now conduct an investigation of Geddert, who traveled with his Twistars team as recently as this weekend.
More than 100 women have read victim-impact statements during Nassar’s ongoing sentencing, and a number of them have specifically called out USA Gymnastics for turning a blind eye to reports of Nassar’s abuse. In the midst of the hearing, several USA Gymnastics board members—including chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley—issued their resignation this weekend.
[ESPN]
Correction (11:43 p.m. ET): A previous version of this story said that Geddert “employed” Nassar. But Nassar was never paid by Geddert and instead treated athletes at his gyms for free; the story has been updated to reflect that.