The former chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee who was severely criticised for his handling of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-senate-panel-asks-fbi-to-probe-us-olympic-chief-over-nassar-scandal-184186">Larry Nassar abuse scandal</a> received $2.4 million in severance pay, official records revealed on Wednesday.

Scott Blackmun stepped down as chief of USOC in February last year, roughly one month after former national gymnastics team doctor Nassar was jailed for life for abusing more than 250 athletes, including several stars of the USA's 2012 and 2016 gold medal-winning Olympic teams.

A subsequent independent report commissioned by the USOC, which is now known as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), was scathing of Blackmun's role in the scandal.

The report by outside investigators alleged Blackmun and other Olympic chiefs had failed to react swiftly when first warned of allegations surrounding Nassar, concealing the doctor's crimes until the scandal erupted into the open in late 2016.

Blackmun told investigators he had "initiated an internal effort at the USOC to alert his SafeSport team to the allegations and to confirm that the USOC was taking all appropriate steps to respond to the allegations and ensure athlete safety."

However, investigators later concluded "no such conversations were had, and no such steps were taken."

His multi-million-dollar severance payment was revealed in a financial report made public on Wednesday.

USOPC chairman Susanne Lyons said the payoff was necessary to facilitate "new leadership to guide the organization forward, as well as Blackmun's serious health challenges."

Blackmun left his post after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2018.

Attorney John Manly, who represented many of Nassar's abused patients, slammed the payout.

"Blackmun knew Larry Nassar was a child molester in&nbsp;summer 2015," Manly wrote on Twitter. "He concealed that fact from the public, the media, police &amp; worst of all the athletes &amp; their parents.

"Instead of going to jail he’s been rewarded w/2.4 mill. by USOC leaders. Enough!!"

Some of the biggest names in US gymnastics were abused by Nassar, including Simone Biles and fellow gold medallists Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas.

Blackmun was also sharply criticized for bungling USOC's response to the crisis after it erupted, and was forced to apologize after the organization failed to send a representative to harrowing victim-impact testimony at Nassar's sentencing.

The former chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee who was severely criticised for his handling of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal received $2.4 million in severance pay, official records revealed on Wednesday.

The former chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee who was severely criticised for his handling of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal received $2.4 million in severance pay, official records revealed on Wednesday. Scott Blackmun stepped down as chief of USOC in February last year, roughly one month after former national gymnastics team doctor Nassar was jailed for life for abusing more than 250 athletes, including several stars of the USA's 2012 and 2016 gold medal-winning Olympic teams. A subsequent independent report commissioned by the USOC, which is now known as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), was scathing of Blackmun's role in the scandal. The report by outside investigators alleged Blackmun and other Olympic chiefs had failed to react swiftly when first warned of allegations surrounding Nassar, concealing the doctor's crimes until the scandal erupted into the open in late 2016. Blackmun told investigators he had "initiated an internal effort at the USOC to alert his SafeSport team to the allegations and to confirm that the USOC was taking all appropriate steps to respond to the allegations and ensure athlete safety." However, investigators later concluded "no such conversations were had, and no such steps were taken." His multi-million-dollar severance payment was revealed in a financial report made public on Wednesday. USOPC chairman Susanne Lyons said the payoff was necessary to facilitate "new leadership to guide the organization forward, as well as Blackmun's serious health challenges." Blackmun left his post after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2018. Attorney John Manly, who represented many of Nassar's abused patients, slammed the payout. "Blackmun knew Larry Nassar was a child molester in summer 2015," Manly wrote on Twitter. "He concealed that fact from the public, the media, police & worst of all the athletes & their parents. "Instead of going to jail he’s been rewarded w/2.4 mill. by USOC leaders. Enough!!" Some of the biggest names in US gymnastics were abused by Nassar, including Simone Biles and fellow gold medallists Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas. Blackmun was also sharply criticized for bungling USOC's response to the crisis after it erupted, and was forced to apologize after the organization failed to send a representative to harrowing victim-impact testimony at Nassar's sentencing.

Disgraced ex-US Olympic chief Scott Blackmun gets $2.4 million severance pay

US Olympic Committee Chief Executive Scott Blackmun is resigning for medical reasons, the organization said on Wednesday, following months of sustained criticism stemming from the sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

In a statement, the USOC cited Blackmun&#39;s &quot;ongoing health issues&quot; related to prostate cancer, for which he has been receiving treatment. As part of the same press release, the group also outlined new reforms aimed at protecting its athletes from abuse.

The Colorado Springs, Colorado-based USOC, which announced the change less than a week after the Winter Olympic Games ended in Pyeongchang, South Korea, had resisted calls to fire Blackmun over the Nassar case. Blackmun, 60, did not attend the Games.

The scandal prompted the entire board of directors at USA Gymnastics, the sport`s governing body, to resign, along with the president and athletic director at Michigan State University, where Nassar also worked. It also spawned lawsuits and criminal and civil investigations.

A number of critics, including athletes who said they were abused and two US senators - Iowa Republican Joni Ernst and New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen - had called for the ouster of Blackmun and USOC board members, accusing them of failing to promptly act on complaints raised against Nassar and fostering a culture of silence.

&ldquo;Scott Blackmun&rsquo;s resignation as CEO of the US Olympic Committee is long overdue,&quot; John Manly, a lawyer representing 120 of Nassar`s victims, said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;Under his leadership, USOC has focused nearly all its efforts on money and medals while the safety of our athletes has taken a back seat.&quot;

Shaheen also welcomed the resignation, citing Nassar`s years of abuse. &quot;It&#39;s clear that the culture at the US Olympic Committee desperately needs to change,&quot; she said in a statement.

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an advocate for female athletes and member of the Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOC, said in a Twitter post that Blackmun &quot;didn`t enact basic #ChildProtection policies or educate the membership about how to prevent it.&quot;

&quot;His legacy will be that he failed athletes,&quot; she added.

The USOC statement did not address whether the sexual abuse scandal played a role in Blackmun`s departure. His compensation in 2016 totalled $1.075 million, according to USOC tax filings.

&quot;Given Scott`s current health situation, we have mutually agreed it is in the best interest of both Scott and the USOC that we identify new leadership,&quot; USOC Chairman Larry Probst said in the statement.

Nassar pleaded guilty to molesting female athletes under the guise of medical treatment and was sentenced to life in prison. Authorities say Nassar victimized more than 260 women and girls, including several Olympic gold medalists. Nearly 200 of them offered testimony during a pair of sentencing hearings in Michigan earlier this year.

USOC board member Susanne Lyons, who in January was chosen to head up a working group to address problems that the Nassar case had exposed, will serve as acting CEO while the organization searches for a permanent replacement.

The USOC also said Wednesday it will increase funding for support and counselling for victims as well as investigations into abuse allegations, among other reforms.

Separately, USA Gymnastics said its vice president of development, Luan Peszek, has left the organization after nearly 30 years.&nbsp;

Following a lengthy stint with the team`s communications department, Peszek was the top administrator for the women&#39;s program for two years, before assuming her most recent post in 2015. Her daughter Samantha was a 2008 Olympic silver medalist.

A team spokeswoman, Leslie King, declined to explain the circumstances of Peszek`s departure or say when the exit occurred.

The scandal prompted the entire board of directors at USA Gymnastics

US Olympic Committee Chief Executive Scott Blackmun is resigning for medical reasons, the organization said on Wednesday, following months of sustained criticism stemming from the sex abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. In a statement, the USOC cited Blackmun's "ongoing health issues" related to prostate cancer, for which he has been receiving treatment. As part of the same press release, the group also outlined new reforms aimed at protecting its athletes from abuse. The Colorado Springs, Colorado-based USOC, which announced the change less than a week after the Winter Olympic Games ended in Pyeongchang, South Korea, had resisted calls to fire Blackmun over the Nassar case. Blackmun, 60, did not attend the Games. The scandal prompted the entire board of directors at USA Gymnastics, the sport`s governing body, to resign, along with the president and athletic director at Michigan State University, where Nassar also worked. It also spawned lawsuits and criminal and civil investigations. A number of critics, including athletes who said they were abused and two US senators - Iowa Republican Joni Ernst and New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen - had called for the ouster of Blackmun and USOC board members, accusing them of failing to promptly act on complaints raised against Nassar and fostering a culture of silence. “Scott Blackmun’s resignation as CEO of the US Olympic Committee is long overdue," John Manly, a lawyer representing 120 of Nassar`s victims, said in a statement. "Under his leadership, USOC has focused nearly all its efforts on money and medals while the safety of our athletes has taken a back seat." Shaheen also welcomed the resignation, citing Nassar`s years of abuse. "It's clear that the culture at the US Olympic Committee desperately needs to change," she said in a statement. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an advocate for female athletes and member of the Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOC, said in a Twitter post that Blackmun "didn`t enact basic #ChildProtection policies or educate the membership about how to prevent it." "His legacy will be that he failed athletes," she added. The USOC statement did not address whether the sexual abuse scandal played a role in Blackmun`s departure. His compensation in 2016 totalled $1.075 million, according to USOC tax filings. "Given Scott`s current health situation, we have mutually agreed it is in the best interest of both Scott and the USOC that we identify new leadership," USOC Chairman Larry Probst said in the statement. Nassar pleaded guilty to molesting female athletes under the guise of medical treatment and was sentenced to life in prison. Authorities say Nassar victimized more than 260 women and girls, including several Olympic gold medalists. Nearly 200 of them offered testimony during a pair of sentencing hearings in Michigan earlier this year. USOC board member Susanne Lyons, who in January was chosen to head up a working group to address problems that the Nassar case had exposed, will serve as acting CEO while the organization searches for a permanent replacement. The USOC also said Wednesday it will increase funding for support and counselling for victims as well as investigations into abuse allegations, among other reforms. Separately, USA Gymnastics said its vice president of development, Luan Peszek, has left the organization after nearly 30 years. Following a lengthy stint with the team`s communications department, Peszek was the top administrator for the women's program for two years, before assuming her most recent post in 2015. Her daughter Samantha was a 2008 Olympic silver medalist. A team spokeswoman, Leslie King, declined to explain the circumstances of Peszek`s departure or say when the exit occurred.

US Olympic chief resigns after sex abuse scandal, health cited

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Disgraced ex-US Olympic chief Scott Blackmun gets $2.4 million severance pay

US Olympic chief resigns after sex abuse scandal, health cited