Sexual abuse allegations rock US Olympic & Paralympic committee; employee suspended

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee placed an employee on administrative leave Thursday after The Associated Press reported that one of its coaches was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, causing her so much distress that she attempted suicide. Rocky Harris, USOPC chief of sport and athlete services, sent an email to U.S. Biathlon national team members to address the “concerning allegations of abuse” raised by several biathletes in the AP report. “Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.” Harris did not name the employee, but Gary Colliander was the only USOPC coach named in the AP report. Boutot, 33, said she’s glad the U.S. Olympic committee is taking action, but is “incredibility disappointed” that U.S. Biathlon has failed to do the same. “The silence is stunning, to be honest.” U.S. Biathlon CEO Jack Gierhart sent an email to the AP and U.S. Biathlon members late Thursday saying the allegations in the AP report were troubling.