After a 16-month trial, the former USA gymnastics team doctor and Michigan State University sports medicine physician Larry Nassar was sentenced to a lifetime in prison for the systematic sexual abuse of athletes under his care. But, questions remain about how one of the biggest sex abuse scandals in sports history was able to go on for as long as two decades despite ongoing complaints by the athletes.
We spoke to Ashley Stirling, associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, for more insights into the case. Stirling’s research interests include athlete welfare and emotional abuse in sport.
Many of the statements from the survivors and their attorneys have targeted the individuals and institutions that allegedly enabled or were negligent in preventing Nassar’s abuse. On Thursday, the President of Michigan State University, Lou Anna Simon, resigned. How do you see this case unravelling?
This case is highlighting the many ways in which we may safeguard athletes by enhancing prevention initiatives at all levels of sport from the individual to the broader sport institution. It also reminds us that athlete welfare must be the top priority in sport and everyone has a responsibility to protect athletes from harm. If an athlete is in a vulnerable situation, she needs to know that she has someone to speak to and that her health and well-being are more important than Olympic medals.
Athletes allege that complaints through the years to coaches, counselors, police and university-employed trainers were never followed up with proper investigations. How is that possible and how do we safeguard against something similar happening in the future?
One of the risk factors to sexual abuse in sport is the significant position of power of the coach. Coaches and other reputable sport professionals, such as the medical doctor, are highly valued and respected for their sporting success and expertise. This esteem can make it challenging for athletes to come forward and share their stories. This is augmented by the often private and isolated nature of the sexual violence, posing an additional challenge for sport administrators in responding to incidents of harm experienced by a person held in such high regard in the institution.
In Canada, it is required that every sport organization have in place a policy for the prevention of sexual violence. We also have a number of educational resources available such as Respect in Sport and Empower+ that are intended to raise awareness among coaches, parents, and athletes. Safeguarding organizations such as the Child Protection in Sport Unit in the UK and the recently established SafeSport US are good examples of how we can better protect athletes from violence in sport. We need a third party organization to advocate for athlete welfare in sport, educate the public on prevention strategies and regulate and intervene in incidents where an athlete has been harmed or is at risk of experiencing harm.
Originally, 88 victims were slated to take the stand, but that number doubled by the end of the trial. What role do you think the #MeToo movement played in bringing so many affected athletes to come forth with their testimony?
When incidents of sexual abuse occur in sport, athletes are often silenced and do not share their stories. They may feel as if they are the only one in their situation or may have a fear of repercussion, such as losing her spot on the team. It is great that the #MeToo movement has inspired a cultural shift where more victims are feeling comfortable enough to share their stories without judgement.
What do you think the lasting effect of this case will be on other sports, not only gymnastics?
Hopefully this increased awareness of the potential for harm will inspire an enhanced focus on the health and well-being of athletes in the sport environment, as well as a greater provision of supports and resources for those athletes coming forward.