Simone Biles a Plaintiff in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Involving USA Gymnastics

United States star gymnast Simone Biles has identified herself as one of the plaintiffs suing USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, according to John Barr and Dan Murphy of ESPN. 

She joined Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber, Jamie Dantzscher and "some 140 other sexual assault victims of disgraced Team USA doctor Larry Nassar" in filing a motion "seeking the testimony of current and former Olympic officials."

In 2018, Biles said in a public statement she was one of the women sexually assaulted by Nassar:

"Let's be clear—they knew Larry Nassar was a child molester and they never told Ms. Biles," John Manly, Biles' attorney, told Scott M. Reid of the Orange County Register. "She didn't find out until 14 months after they were told and that this had all gone down. Her parents weren't notified."

According to Barr and Murphy, the plaintiffs are seeking testimony from a number of current and former USOPC officials, including current chair Susanne Lyons, former CEO Scott Blackmun and former chief of sport performance Alan Ashley.

"Neither Mr. Blackmun nor Mr. Ashley engaged with USAG on the reported concerns, shared the information with others at the USOC, or took any other action in response to the information from Mr. Penny to ensure that responsible steps were being taken by USAG and the USOC to protect athletes," a report from Boston-based law firm Ropes & Gray stated.

USA Gymnastics had previously offered the survivors a $215 million settlement, though it included the caveat that the plaintiffs agree to not hold the USOPC financially responsible for any future compensation claims for Nassar survivors and would protect USOPC officials and former officials from having to testify in future court depositions. 

That settlement and its stipulations were rejected. 

"The intent is to shield the survivors, court and public from the truth regarding what USOPC knew about the sexual abuse of its athletes," Monday's court filing said.