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FULL STATEMENT FROM USA GYMNASTICS ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESIGNATIONS

USA Gymnastics Board of Directors executive leadership - Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley - tendered their resignations, effective January 21, 2018. The Board of Directors will identify an interim chairperson until a permanent selection is named.

'USA Gymnastics thanks Paul Parilla, Jay Binder and Bitsy Kelley for their many years of service to this organization,' stated Kerry Perry, President and CEO, USA Gymnastics. 'We support their decisions to resign at this time. We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization.

'As the board identifies its next chair and fills the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure that our culture, policies and actions reflect our commitment to those we serve.'

USA Gymnastics has and will continue to take specific and concrete steps to promote athlete safety, health and well-being and prevent future abuse by adopting and vigorously enforcing the USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy, which requires mandatory reporting, defines six types of misconduct, sets standards to prohibit grooming behavior and prevent inappropriate interaction, and establishes greater accountability. Other efforts taken to strengthen that commitment include establishing a dedicated, toll-free number – 1-833-844-SAFE – and the safe sport email address (safesport@usagym.org) to simplify the process for reporting; hiring a new president and chief executive officer who emphasizes empowerment throughout the organization; building a safe sport department that is developing a comprehensive education plan for members; adopting Bylaw amendments to provide the basis for further developing our safe sport programs and governance; and creating an implementation plan for the recommendations made by an experienced, former federal prosecutor who carefully examined the organization’s past policies.

 

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