Hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - Opening Statement of Sen. Nelson, Hearing on Current Issues in American Sports: Protecting the Health and Safety of American Athletes
Hearing
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing. I'm pleased that we'll be able to start a conversation about what more can be done to protect America's athletes of all ages and at all levels.
For instance, we must protect our young athletes, many of whom are children, training for Olympic sports. We were all shocked by the revelations of widespread sexual abuse in USA Gymnastics, USA Taekwondo, and other Olympic sports. Even more appalling was evidence that responsible adults were indifferent and looked the other way. When so many young victims can be horribly abused by adults for so long without repercussions, it's a stain on America's proud Olympics heritage.
Congress needs to respond to this national travesty. It's why I'm proud to cosponsor the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017. This bill would require immediate reporting of sexual-abuse allegations, require national governing bodies to adopt strict protocols and measures to protect children, and make it easier for victims to come forward and report to the authorities.
We also need to examine athletic doping at the international level. There are allegations that the Russian government runs a doping program for the sole purpose of providing its athletes an unfair advantage. Over 100 Russian athletes were banned from Olympic games in Rio. We should address attacks on clean, drug-free sports and protect athletes who do things the right way.
Finally, the issue of head injuries in sports is something that only becomes more alarming as more research comes out. As we all know, concussions and CTE are not limited to pro-sports. It's also about kids and the devastating effects on their still-developing young brains. I want to recognize Senator Udall, who's been such a champion and leader on this issue. His dedication to preventing concussions and youth athletic safety is well known to everyone here, and I want to thank him for raising awareness about this very troubling issue.
Source