Grassley Pushes SafeSport to Take Action to Address Major Failings

WASHINGTON– Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is following up on hisoversightof the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s vetting and hiring practices. The organization previously hired an investigator, Jason Krasley, who was later charged with theft, harassment and sex crimes.
“Congress established SafeSport to protect young athletes from abuse and act as a good steward of taxpayer dollars. The arrest of a former investigator and my subsequent oversight has called into question the quality of SafeSport’s hiring process, the Board’s ability to supervise SafeSport officers and directors, and SafeSport’s management of funds,”Grassley said. “American athletes and taxpayers deserve better.”
In letters to SafeSport’s CEO, Ju’Riese Colón, and Board of Directors, Grassley notes:
Read Grassley’s letter to the SafeSport CEOHEREand his letter to the SafeSport Board of DirectorsHERE.
Background:
Grassley's bipartisan legislationestablishedSafeSport in 2017 to investigate cases of athlete sex abuse and harassment in Olympic governing bodies.
Grassley was the first in history toconvenea congressional hearing on athlete protections as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017. He also spearheaded oversight of theU.S. Olympic Committee, theFBI’sfailed response to the Larry Nassar abuse scandal and the failures ofSafeSport and USA Gymnasticsto effectively safeguard athletes.
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