USA Gymnastics president resigns amid claims he ignored concerns about team doctor who 'sexually abused little girls from the age of 12 while pretending to give them pelvic exams'

  • Steve Penny stepped down as president of the organization on Thursday
  • He is accused of mishandling accusations of sexual abuse against a team doctor
  • Larry Nassar allegedly fondled young girls including 2000 Olympic gymnast Jamie Dantzscher
  • He is also accused of hording child pornography and filming himself molest children in a pool on his GoPro
  • Dantzscher claims Penny knew about the abuse claims but did nothing
  • He denies any wrongdoing but said he stepped down in the 'best interests' of the organization 

By Jennifer Smith For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:13 EDT, 16 March 2017 | Updated: 18:26 EDT, 16 March 2017

Steve Penny (above in 2014)  resigned as the president of USA Gymnastics on Thursday amid criticism of his handling of sex abuse claims 

Steve Penny (above in 2014)  resigned as the president of USA Gymnastics on Thursday amid criticism of his handling of sex abuse claims 

The president of USA Gymnastics has resigned amid growing criticism over its handling of sex abuse claims across the country.               

Steve Penny stepped down at a meeting in Indianapolis on Thursday a week after being told to leave by the United States Olympic Committee.

The organization is accused of not acting quickly enough to claims gymnasts were sexually abused by team doctors and coaches across the country. 

The allegations surfaced in lawsuits which claim Penny was among officials who knew 53-year-old team doctor Larry Nassar had sexually abused gymnasts when they were teenagers but buried their claims.

Among allegations is that Nassar performed a fake procedure he called an 'intravaginal adjustment' where he inserted his hands into the girls' vaginas to 'adjust their pelvic bones'.

The first lawsuit was filed in September last year by Jamie Dantzscher, a member of the 2000 Olympic squad who said she was fondled by Nassar for six years from 1994 when she was just 12. 

She said Penny knew about concerns surrounding Nassar's behavior but allowed him to carry on abusing her.

She named Penny as a co-defendant in the suit against USA Gymnastics filed in California last year. Dantzscher is one of 70 women who are suing the organization and doctor.

Others include one of her teammates from the Sydney Olympics and Rachael Denhollander, a Michigan University student who said he molested her during treatments.

Larry Nassar (left) is accused of sexually abusing gymnasts when they were teenagers.  They say Penny (right in 2011) knew about the abuse but allowed it to carry on
Larry Nassar (left) is accused of sexually abusing gymnasts when they were teenagers.  They say Penny (right in 2011) knew about the abuse but allowed it to carry on

Larry Nassar (left) is accused of sexually abusing gymnasts when they were teenagers.  They say Penny (right in 2011) knew about the abuse but allowed it to carry on 

Nassar is currently in prison awaiting trial for 28 separate charges including sexual assault and felony possession of child pornography.

Penny said he reported him to authorities as soon as he was made away of the gymnasts' allegations in July 2015. He later admitted that it had in fact been five weeks after he was told.  

USOC recommended he step down last week as a result of the fallout. On Thursday, USA Gymnastics chairman Paul Parilla confirmed his departure.

'We have accepted Steve’s resignation and want to thank him for his contributions and dedication to USA Gymnastics over the years. 

Among Nassar's accusors is Jamie Dantzscher (above at the 2000 Olympic trials) who says he abused her for six years

Among Nassar's accusors is Jamie Dantzscher (above at the 2000 Olympic trials) who says he abused her for six years

'The Board believes this change in leadership will help USA Gymnastics face its current challenges and implement solutions to move the organization forward in promoting a safe environment for its athletes at all levels,' Paul Parilla said in a statement. 

Dantzcher's lawsuit claims team coordinator Martha Karolyi also knew about the abuse but did nothing.

After it was filed last year, the organization hired a former federal prosecutor to review its sexual misconduct policies. Their finished report is not due until later this year. 

Nassar is currently in prison in Michigan and is facing dozens of child sex abuse and child pornography charges.

FBI agents told last year how they confiscated 37,000 explicit images of children from his home. They said they also found GoPro footage which showed him molesting girls in a swimming pool.

He is also accused of molesting women at the University of Michigan where he treated student athletes. 

One softball player claimed he stuck his finger in her vagina during an exam, claiming it was routine practice.

Nassar denies all of the charges and is awaiting trial in prison in Michigan.

Dantzcher waived her anonymity to discuss the allegations in an episode of 60 minutes along with others who say he abused them last month.  

Rachael Denhollander (left) has accused Nassar of abusing her when she was a student athlete at the University of Michigan
Rachael Denhollander (left) has accused Nassar of abusing her when she was a student athlete at the University of Michigan

Rachael Denhollander (left) has accused Nassar of abusing her when she was a student athlete at the University of Michigan 

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