Larry Nassar case: The sexual abuse matter that changed US gymnastics

Lawrance Nassar, commonly known as Larry Nassar, was sentenced to jail time for 40 to 175 years for crimes relating to sexual assault. Nassar is a former physician for the gymnastic team of the United States.

Here is all you need to know about the case:

Reports about Nassar sexually abusing multiple individuals first surfaced in 2016. USA Gymnastics, the country’s governing body for the sport, retained files that included details about more than 50 coaches suspected of abusing athletes, according to reports from the New York Times. 

The Indianapolis Star also reported that in many cases officials did not notify law enforcement agencies that would otherwise would have been crucial to the case.

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In September that year, The Indianapolis Star interviewed two athletes who accused Nassar of sexual abuse. The women said the physician penetrated them with his fingers claiming that it was a required medical procedure.

A few months later in early 2017, Nassar’s medical license was suspended by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, according to reports from New York Times.

Nassar pleaded guilty to a total of 10 charges of molestation following multiple reports flowing in against him. Most of these charges, which were accepted by Nassar in November, were recorded in Ingham County while the remaining were filed in Eaton County.

According to reports from New York Times, further probes revealed in December that Nasar was in possession of child pornography too. The former physician had more than 37,000 videos and images on his computer.

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles told Congress in forceful testimony Wednesday that federal law enforcement and gymnastics officials turned a “blind eye” to USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of her and hundreds of other women.

Biles told the Senate Judiciary Committee that “enough is enough” as she and three other US gymnasts spoke in stark emotional terms about the lasting toll Nassar’s crimes have taken on their lives. In response, FBI Director Christopher Wray said he was “deeply and profoundly sorry” for delays in Nassar’s prosecution and the pain it caused.

(With AP inputs)