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

Olympian Kelly Catlin, who helped the United States win the women's pursuit team silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games, has died, USA Cycling said. The three-time world champion was 23.

"The US cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin," USA Cycling President and Chief Executive Rob DeMartini said in a statement. "Kelly was more than an athlete to us, and she will always be part of the USA Cycling family."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Catlin family. This is an incredibly difficult time and we want to respect their privacy," the statement added. "The entire cycling community is mourning this immense loss."

VeloNews reported that Catlin's father, Mark, said in a letter to the publication that she died on Friday night at her home in California. Her father told the publication that she died by suicide.

Catlin won gold medals with the US&nbsp;women's team pursuit team at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 world championships.

She was a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Olympian Kelly Catlin, who helped the United States win the women's pursuit team silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games, has died, USA Cycling said. The three-time world champion was 23.

Olympian Kelly Catlin, who helped the United States win the women's pursuit team silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games, has died, USA Cycling said. The three-time world champion was 23. "The US cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin," USA Cycling President and Chief Executive Rob DeMartini said in a statement. "Kelly was more than an athlete to us, and she will always be part of the USA Cycling family." "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Catlin family. This is an incredibly difficult time and we want to respect their privacy," the statement added. "The entire cycling community is mourning this immense loss." VeloNews reported that Catlin's father, Mark, said in a letter to the publication that she died on Friday night at her home in California. Her father told the publication that she died by suicide. Catlin won gold medals with the US women's team pursuit team at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 world championships. She was a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Cycling: US Olympic medalist Kelly Catlin dies at age 23, father says it's 'suicide'

Swimwear maker Speedo and luxury retailer Ralph Lauren Corp ended their sponsorship contracts with Ryan Lochte, days after the US swimmer admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics. 
 
The incident embarrassed the host city, angered the local police and government and dominated news coverage of South America&#39;s first Olympics, leading the US Olympic Committee to issue an apology. 
 
Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, apologised on Saturday in an interview to Brazil&#39;s largest broadcaster, Globo TV. &quot;I wasn&#39;t lying to a certain extent,&quot; he said. &quot;I over-exaggerated what was happening to me.&quot; 
 
Within hours of the Games coming to a close, Speedo USA issued a statement saying it would drop Lochte as one of its endorsers, while Ralph Lauren said it would not be renewing its contract with the swimmer. 
 
Hair removal company Syneron Candela also ended its partnership with Lochte, four months after naming him its global brand ambassador for one of its products. 
 
Nottingham, UK-based Speedo&#39;s US unit said on Monday it would donate $50,000 of Lochte&#39;s fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo. 
 
Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo&#39;s decision. 
 
&quot;I was immature and I made a stupid mistake. I&#39;m human. I made a mistake and I definitely learned from this,&quot; Lochte said in an interview on the Today show. 
 
&quot;They (the people of Rio) put on a great Games. And my immature, intoxicated behavior tarnished that a little,&quot; Lochte said. 
 
Another sponsor, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, had said on Friday that it would continue to monitor the investigation. 
 
&quot;As long as he is a respectable athlete, he will remain a US ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective,&quot; Motokuni Takaoka, CEO of Airweave, had said in an email. Airweave could not be reached for comment today. 
 
Ralph Lauren said its endorsement agreement with Lochte was specifically for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The company had taken down references to the gold medalist from its website last week. 
 
Lochte, 32, won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called &quot;What Would Ryan Lochte Do?&quot; and appearing, as himself, on top shows like &quot;30 Rock&quot; and &quot;90210&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo's decision. 'I was immature and I made a stupid mistake,' he apologised in an interview

Swimwear maker Speedo and luxury retailer Ralph Lauren Corp ended their sponsorship contracts with Ryan Lochte, days after the US swimmer admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics. The incident embarrassed the host city, angered the local police and government and dominated news coverage of South America's first Olympics, leading the US Olympic Committee to issue an apology. Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, apologised on Saturday in an interview to Brazil's largest broadcaster, Globo TV. "I wasn't lying to a certain extent," he said. "I over-exaggerated what was happening to me." Within hours of the Games coming to a close, Speedo USA issued a statement saying it would drop Lochte as one of its endorsers, while Ralph Lauren said it would not be renewing its contract with the swimmer. Hair removal company Syneron Candela also ended its partnership with Lochte, four months after naming him its global brand ambassador for one of its products. Nottingham, UK-based Speedo's US unit said on Monday it would donate $50,000 of Lochte's fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo. Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo's decision. "I was immature and I made a stupid mistake. I'm human. I made a mistake and I definitely learned from this," Lochte said in an interview on the Today show. "They (the people of Rio) put on a great Games. And my immature, intoxicated behavior tarnished that a little," Lochte said. Another sponsor, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, had said on Friday that it would continue to monitor the investigation. "As long as he is a respectable athlete, he will remain a US ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective," Motokuni Takaoka, CEO of Airweave, had said in an email. Airweave could not be reached for comment today. Ralph Lauren said its endorsement agreement with Lochte was specifically for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The company had taken down references to the gold medalist from its website last week. Lochte, 32, won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" and appearing, as himself, on top shows like "30 Rock" and "90210". (Reuters)

Speedo, Ralph Lauren drop Ryan Lochte after Rio incident

Brazilian police stopped three US Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home yesterday to question them about inconsistencies in their accounts of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, police sources said. 
 
Federal police also want to question gold medallist Ryan Lochte, but he had already returned to the United States. 
 
A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen so they could be questioned over their description of the robbery, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and also involved team mates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. 
 
Lochte, 32, one of swimming&#39;s most decorated Olympians, had flown home already on Monday, a police spokesman said. The other three men were stopped by police at Rio&#39;s international airport yesterday evening, one police source said. 
 
A spokesman for the US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. 
 
&quot;We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities,&quot; said Patrick Sandusky, USOC spokesperson. 
 
&quot;We are gathering further information.&quot; 
 
The police source said Feigen had been detained by police before he boarded the plane and was then taken for questioning along with the other two. There are no charges facing the three men, the source said. 
 
(Reuters)

A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen

Brazilian police stopped three US Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home yesterday to question them about inconsistencies in their accounts of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, police sources said. Federal police also want to question gold medallist Ryan Lochte, but he had already returned to the United States. A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen so they could be questioned over their description of the robbery, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and also involved team mates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. Lochte, 32, one of swimming's most decorated Olympians, had flown home already on Monday, a police spokesman said. The other three men were stopped by police at Rio's international airport yesterday evening, one police source said. A spokesman for the US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. "We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities," said Patrick Sandusky, USOC spokesperson. "We are gathering further information." The police source said Feigen had been detained by police before he boarded the plane and was then taken for questioning along with the other two. There are no charges facing the three men, the source said. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: Brazil police pull US swimmers from flight in robbery probe