USA Gymnastics has named former National Basketball Association vice president Li Li Leung as its new chief executive to help the sport's governing body navigate the aftermath of a devastating sex abuse scandal.
Former college gymnast Leung will take the helm of an organisation that filed for bankruptcy protection in December after lawsuits were filed by hundreds of women who were sexually abused by former national team doctor Larry Nassar.
"I was upset and angry to learn about the abuse and the institutions that let the athletes down," Leung said in a statement on Tuesday.
"I admire the courage and strength of the survivors, and I will make it a priority to see that their claims are resolved."
Leung, who also represented the US at the 1988 Junior Pan Am Games, will assume her role as chief executive on March 8 and will be based at the USA Gymnastics headquarters in Indianapolis.
The body has been in turmoil ever since dozens of female gymnasts, including Olympic champions such as Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, came forward to accuse Nassar of sexual abuse.
Over the past two years, three chief executives - Steve Penny, Kerry Perry and interim chief Mary Bono - have been forced out of the organisation after being criticised for the way they handled the situation.
Nassar was sentenced to up to 300 years in prison in two different trials in Michigan last year after more than 350 women testified about abuse at his hands.
Share
