USA Gymnastics won’t enforce Maroney gag order

LOS ANGELES, California: USA Gymnastics said on Wednesday that Olympic star McKayla Maroney was free to speak about her sexual abuse case following outrage over a gag order she was required to sign as part of a $1.25 million settlement.

Maroney, a two-time world champion vaulter and Olympic champion, filed a lawsuit last month against USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee after her settlement deal in December 2016.

The 22-year-old had been warned she could be fined $100,000 if she spoke about her abuse at the hands of disgraced former team doctor Larry Nassar under the terms of a non-disclosure agreement, which she had sought to have overturned.

The gag order was widely criticised, with model Christine Teigen this week offering to pay the fine in its entirety to allow Maroney to speak.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement Maroney would not face a financial penalty for speaking about her abuse by Nassar, who is facing an ongoing sentencing hearing in Michigan this week.

“USA Gymnastics has not sought and will not seek any money from McKayla Maroney for her brave statements made in describing her victimization and abuse by Larry Nassar, nor for any victim impact statements she wants to make to Larry Nassar at this hearing or at any subsequent hearings related to his sentencing,” USA Gymnastics said. “This has been her right and USA Gymnastics encourages McKayla and anyone who has been abused to speak out.”