Star gymnasts testify at Congress about sex-abuse scandal

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, right, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, center, lead a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, with former members of the U.S.A. gymnastics national team, from left, Dominique Moceanu, Jeanette Antolin, and Mattie Larson, to call on Congress to pass legislation that would require amateur athletics governing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement and strengthen oversight of member gymnasiums and coaches. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, right, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, center, lead a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, with former members of the U.S.A. gymnastics national team, from left, Dominique Moceanu, Jeanette Antolin, and Mattie Larson, to call on Congress to pass legislation that would require amateur athletics governing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement and strengthen oversight of member gymnasiums and coaches. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By Associated Press March 28, 2017 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retired star gymnasts have told a Senate committee of being sexually abused by USA Gymnastics officials.

Olympic bronze medalist Jamie Dantzscher and national champion rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard were among those testifying Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu recounted verbal and emotional abuse.

The hearing concerns a bill that could reshape sex-abuse reporting guidelines in Olympic sports. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is co-sponsoring a bill that calls for organizations overseeing Olympic sports to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement or child-welfare authorities.

The bill and proposed changes to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act come in the aftermath of the sex abuse scandal that led to the resignation of USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny.

No one from USA Gymnastics testified.