Doctor accused of sexually abusing gymnasts

Two gymnasts, including a member of the 2000 US women's Olympic team, say they were sexually abused by a former longtime doctor for USA Gymnastics, court documents and interviews show. Nassar served as USA Gymnastics' team physician during four Olympic Games and resigned his position last September with little public notice. Another gymnast recently filed a complaint with MSU police, alleging she was abused in 2000.

Denhollander alleges Nassar sexually abused her during treatments for back pain in 2000, when she was a 15-year-old club-level gymnast.

The other gymnast, Rachael Denhollander, filed a report against Nassar last month at Michigan State University, where she was trained as a teenage gymnast.

"We are grateful to the athletes for coming forward to share their concerns when they did", USA Gymnastics said.

Nassar's attorney, Matt Borgula, issued a statement Tuesday disputing that claim.

A doctor with ties to Michigan State University has been accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault and molesting an underage victim. Officials at Michigan State and Twistars said USA Gymnastics did not inform them of the concerns.

Denhollander said her mother was at the therapy sessions, but that Nassar positioned himself in such a way that she couldn't see what was happening.

Manly said he expects other former US national team gymnasts to join the California civil suit.

Rachael Denhollander is one of two women who have filed criminal complaints against Nassar

"Dr. Nassar, to the extent the allegations are against him, adamantly denies any misconduct at this or any other time", Borgula told the Star. She alleges Nassar never wore gloves when examining her at Michigan State University, where he's a faculty member.

Nassar began working for USA Gymnastics as a trainer in 1986 and was promoted to medical director and team physician for women's gymnastics in 1996.

One of the women filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in California that was released Monday.

The doctor's contact with the woman was "well outside any recognized and/or accepted technique" and was done for his "own sexual gratification", the lawsuit says.

The suit was filed by a woman identified only as Jane J.D. Doe, who is described as a medal winning United States gymnast at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. An administrative investigation revealed no violation of MSU policy, and the local prosecutor's office did not file charges after an investigation by MSU police.

"Larry Nassar, a physician with MSU's Sports Medicine program, has been temporarily relieved of clinical and patient duties as of August 30 as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct", Cody said. "It is shocking to learn that the USA Gymnastics program has a long dark history of sexual abuse which must be brought to light and ended forever", said victim's attorney Vince Finaldi.

Under the guise of performing osteopathic therapy, Nassar is accused of groping and fondling the female's private parts, including use of a procedure he called an "inter-vaginal adjustment" for which there is no recognized medical goal, Manly says.