Two of the nation’s most noted gymnastic coaches were sued Thursday by an unidentified athlete who alleges they were indifferent to sexual abuse at their training center in Texas.
The Los Angeles Superior Court complaint names Bela and Marta Karolyi as well as the women’s gymnastics team’s former physician, Dr. Larry Nassar. The plaintiff is identified only as Jane LM Doe and her allegations include sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
“This action seeks to vindicate the rights of Jane LM Doe, a former elite gymnast, who was sexually abused, harassed, violated and molested as a minor…,” the suit states.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
A representative for the Karolyis could not be immediately reached.
The plaintiff, born in 1992, was a member of the U.S. national team from 2006 and 2011, the suit states. She alleges she was abused by Nassar at the so-called Karolyi Ranch.
The Karolyis “created a toxic environment where the perpetrator (Nassar) was given opportunity to perpetrate and continue his systematic sexual abuse of minor children,” the suit alleges.
“As a youngster, the plaintiff began her gymnastics career at a young age and competed, trained and conditioned as a gymnast many years prior to the star of her sexual abuse at the hands of Nassar,” the suit states.
The complaint further states that the couple hit and scratched the youngsters who lived and trained at the ranch and that they allowed Nassar to do what he wanted so long as he did not report them to authorities
–City News Service