Top USA Gymnastics board members step down amid sexual abuse scandal

Three top leaders on USA Gymnastics’s board of directors have stepped down as the sentencing hearing for former team doctor Larry Nassar continues in Michigan.

Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley all resigned Sunday, according to a release from USA Gymnastics. The organization has faced widespread criticism from current and former gymnasts over how it handled the accusations of abuse against Nassar.

Kerry Perry, president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, said in the release that the organization supports the resignations.

“We support their decisions to resign at this time,” Perry said. “We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization.”

{mosads}The resignations come as sentencing continues for Nassar, who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting female gymnasts. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison on federal charges of child pornography and is in the midst of a sentencing hearing for state charges of criminal sexual conduct.

At least 140 women have accused Nassar of sexual abuse, including Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney.

This is the latest move in USA Gymnastics’s efforts to make changes to the organization’s culture following the scandal. Perry came on board in December after former CEO Steve Penny resigned last March.

The organization announced last week it would relocate its training facilities from the Karolyi Ranch near Houston, where Nassar molested the girls.