When did advertisers know about the problems with Larry Nassar?

It seems so ironic that the biggest scandal involving a sexual predator of young women who were participants in the Olympic games was just convicted days before the start of the Olympic games in South Korea. The gravity of the crimes committed by Larry Nassar during his tenure with USA Gymnastics are so heinous they may never be fully understood, or analyzed in their entirety. The one question which still remains a mystery is why so many other entities who were informed of the situation never took action (Barry, Kovaleski, & Maur, 2018). The FBI were informed about his activities for almost a year before they became seriously involved with his activities, yet during that time many more women fell prey to this monster (Barry, Kovaleski, & Maur, 2018). Only when this case came to light did advertisers decide that enough was enough (Lam, 2018). AT&T said that they would withdraw their sponsorship after the full impact of the case became all too obvious to everyone involved (Lam, 2018). Only when there was demonstrated responsibility by USA Gymnastics that their house had been put in order, and made sure that this would never happen to athletes again would AT&T, as well as other advertisers be willing to bring back their sponsorship (Lam, 2018). Athletes have spoken out fiercely since these crimes became public stating that USA Gymnastics may need to be replaced as a result of the unfolding events of the past month (Barron, 2018). They may be on the right track to identifying the other accomplice in these crimes since USA Gymnastics would have taken a big blow to loose a client like AT&T, and other media giants who dream about securing a client as big, and as prestigious as the Olympic Games (Lam, 2018). Young female athletes who were abused by Nassar, now totaling 265, stated they repeatedly made their situation known to USA Gymnastics on more than one occasion, and yet nothing was done on their behalf, at least not immediately (Barry, Kovaleski, & Maur, 2018). When the FBI finally was able to view the evidence; videotape of Nassar performing examinations of young athletes did the FBI realize this was a situation where they had missed the warning signs (Barry, Kovaleski, & Maur, 2018). Why did USA Gymnastics take more than a month to notify authorities of the situation? Was it concern about their ability to retain sponsors? And why did the FBI take almost a year to get serious about the investigation? It may be nothing more than the inefficient machinery of bureaucracy losing track of citizens within the system. One thing seems almost certain; the punishment handed down to Larry Nassar is only the beginning of an investigation that will certainly last longer than the time that USA Gymnastics took to notify the FBI of the crimes that were taking place inside its doors.

References:

Barron, D. (2018, January). USA Gymnastics may need to be replaced in wake of scandal. Houston Chronicle [Web news article]. Retrieved from: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/olympics/article/USA-Gymnastics-facing-uncertain-future-as-sport-s-12511479.php

Barry, D., Kovaleski, S. F., & Maur, J. (2018, February). As F.B.I. took a year to pursue the Nassar case, dozens say they were molested. The New York Times [News web article]. Retrieved from: nytimes.com/2018/02/03/sports/nassar-fbi

Lam, K. (2018, January). AT&T suspends USA Gymnastics sponsorship, joining several companies in wake of Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. Fox News [News web article]. Retrieved from: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/24/at-t-suspends-usa-gynastics-sponsorship-joining-several-companies-in-wake-larry-nassar-sexual-abuse-scandal.html