Youth sports and camps
Abuse cases at youth sports organizations and camps with major litigation.
15 developments, 2010–2025, oldest first.
2010
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ABC News finds at least 36 USA Swimming coaches banned over sexual misconduct with swimmers
An ABC News investigation reported that at least 36 coaches had been banned by USA Swimming over a decade for sexual misconduct with teenage athletes, including secret filming. The report prompted USA Swimming to create its Safe Sport program.
2017
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New U.S. Center for SafeSport opens and begins investigating Olympic-sport abuse reports
The independent U.S. Center for SafeSport, created after abuse scandals in USA Swimming and other sports, opened in March 2017 and quickly took on 21 misconduct cases. It was given authority to investigate and impose sanctions binding on national governing bodies.
2018
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USA Volleyball expels prominent youth coach Rick Butler for life
Rick Butler, founder of a major Illinois youth volleyball club, said USA Volleyball had banned him for life amid renewed allegations that he sexually abused underage players in the 1980s. Butler denied abusing anyone and was never criminally charged.
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Orange County Register reports USA Swimming ignored hundreds of abuse cases
An Orange County Register investigation alleged that top USA Swimming officials knew of sexual abuse by coaches dating to the 1980s and failed to act, affecting hundreds of swimmers.
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Former taekwondo athletes sue Lopez brothers, USA Taekwondo and USOC over alleged abuse
Four former elite athletes sued coach Jean Lopez, Olympic champion Steven Lopez, USA Taekwondo and the U.S. Olympic Committee, alleging sexual abuse and that the organizations ignored complaints. Jean Lopez had been banned by SafeSport the previous month and denied wrongdoing.
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SafeSport bans two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Steven Lopez for life
The U.S. Center for SafeSport declared Steven Lopez permanently ineligible after a misconduct investigation, following a similar lifetime ban against his brother Jean. Lopez could appeal and was not criminally charged.
2021
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Report reexamines Kanakuk Kamps abuse and nondisclosure agreements with victims
Reporting revisited abuse by former Kanakuk director Pete Newman, imprisoned since 2010, and found the camp had kept promoting him despite earlier complaints. Many families settled under NDAs, prompting calls for the camp to release victims from them.
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Report says federal grand jury examining USA Swimming over abuse cover-up and insurance
Salon reported that a federal grand jury in Manhattan was investigating USA Swimming over alleged concealment of abuse cases and insurance practices; prosecutors declined to comment. The organization faced dozens of civil abuse claims.
2022
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Former camper sues Kanakuk alleging fraud in 2010 abuse settlement
A former camper abused by Pete Newman sued Kanakuk, its CEO and its insurer, alleging his family was misled into a confidential 2010 settlement by claims that leaders did not know of Newman's conduct. Kanakuk declined to comment on pending litigation.
2023
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AP: SafeSport center overwhelmed six years after its creation
An AP examination found SafeSport carried about 1,000 open cases with roughly 60 investigators, and that fewer than 15% of cases since 2017 reached formal resolution. Its leaders said funding was inadequate.
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Congressional commission draft calls SafeSport 'in potential crisis'
A draft report from the commission reviewing the U.S. Olympic system said feedback about the U.S. Center for SafeSport depicted an agency in potential crisis.
2024
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SafeSport announces operational changes after congressional criticism
Following a Senate hearing and a commission finding that it had lost athletes' trust, SafeSport unveiled 10 changes including a dedicated team for cases involving minors and more time for claimants to respond to evidence.
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Second Kanakuk abuse survivor sues camp alleging fraudulent concealment
Another man abused by Pete Newman sued Kanakuk, current and former leaders and its insurer, alleging they concealed knowledge of Newman's behavior. Kanakuk maintained Newman was a rogue employee.
2025
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Former SafeSport investigator charged with rape and trafficking from police tenure
Jason Krasley, a former Allentown, Pennsylvania officer hired by SafeSport as an investigator, was charged with rape and sex trafficking offenses tied to his police work, raising questions about the center's hiring. SafeSport had dismissed him in late 2024.
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SafeSport CEO Ju'Riese Colon departs amid criticism of the center
SafeSport announced that CEO Ju'Riese Colon was no longer leading the organization, with the board chair heading an interim committee. The change followed criticism over backlogs, case closures and the investigator arrest.