What is the U.S. Center for SafeSport and what does it do?
Long before Larry Nassar was revealed to be a sexual predator, abusing hundreds of girls and young women in his role as team physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State, the U.S. Olympic movement struggled with how to handle abuse complaints.
The individual governing bodies had neither the resources nor the expertise to investigate and adjudicate cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Worse, there were many instances where they lacked the will.
U.S. Olympic officials were warned – repeatedly – that a more comprehensive solution was needed.
“This is not an issue that can be wished away,” then-USA Gymnastics president Bob Colarossi wrote to the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1999. “The USOC can either position itself as a leader in the protection of young athletes or it can wait until it is forced to deal with the problem under much more difficult circumstances.”
IS IT WORKING? U.S. Center for SafeSport was created to protect athletes from abuse
Finally, after a series of abuse scandals at several governing bodies including USA Swimming, the U.S. Center for SafeSport was established. It was authorized by Congress in 2017 through the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act, and opened in March of that year. The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act, passed three years later, gave it further authority.
Here’s a closer look at SafeSport:
What is SafeSport?
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent body authorized by Congress to handle abuse complaints in the Olympic and Paralympic movement, which covers more than 10 million athletes from rec leagues up to the Olympic level.
Complaints can be made directly to the Center, either through an online form or hotline. They can be reported by the complainant or a third party. Complaints can be made anonymously.
If a complaint of sexual abuse is made to a governing body, like USA Gymnastics or USA Swimming, the governing body is obligated to report it to SafeSport.
SafeSport also handles some cases involving physical and emotional abuse.
How does it work?
When SafeSport receives a complaint, it first determines whether it has jurisdiction. If it does, the Center’s response and resolution team will do a preliminary inquiry to determine whether there is enough information to investigate and whether the complainant wants to cooperate.
If not, SafeSport is likely to administratively close the case. This preserves the option of re-opening it at a later date if more information becomes available or the complainant decides he or she wants to participate.
If SafeSport does take the case, it will decide whether any temporary measures are needed to protect the complainant during the process. These include no-contact orders, temporary suspensions and supervised coaching. SafeSport’s response and resolution team then begins its investigation.
If SafeSport finds a violation of the SafeSport Code occurred, it will impose a sanction. This can range from probation to a permanent ban from the sport.
SafeSport maintains a searchable database of all sanctioned individuals.
How long does this take?
That depends. Some cases can be resolved quickly while others take months, even years. Of the roughly 1,000 cases currently open, SafeSport CEO Ju’Riese Colon said 28% are a year old or more.
Findings also can be appealed, which would add to the timeline.
How many cases are there?
Since SafeSport opened in March 2017, Colon said it has received roughly 15,000 complaints. With the exception of 2020, when most sports were halted at the start of the COVID pandemic, the number of complaints the Center has received has increased each year.
The Center currently gets about 150 complaints a week, Colon said, putting it on track for about 8,000 this year alone.
Does SafeSport protect every young athlete in America?
No. SafeSport only has jurisdiction over athletes in the Olympic movement. If your child plays a sport that doesn't have a national governing body (NGB) certified by the USOPC, they are not covered by SafeSport. If your child participates in sports through an organization that isn't overseen by an NGB -- AAU, for example -- they are not covered.
Is investigating complaints all SafeSport does?
No. The Center also develops and administers safe sport training for governing bodies. This includes abuse prevention as well as courses on creating a positive environment and guides for parents.
SafeSport also audits and monitors the national governing bodies to ensure they’re in compliance with safe sport regulations.
Who pays for SafeSport?
The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act requires the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to contribute $20 million a year to SafeSport. Colon said that covers the bulk of the Center’s $21 million budget.
But with the number of complaints increasing each year, Colon said SafeSport is always looking for new funding sources. The Center now sells its training programs to groups outside the Olympic movement, and is looking to corporations and foundations for additional funds.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Safesport? How the organization handles abuse complaints
