US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Dismisses Coach And Director Over Sexual Abuse Allegations

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has terminated the employment of a coach and a director following allegations of sexual abuse reported by The Associated Press.

The coach, identified as Gary Colliander, was accused of sexually abusing Grace Boutot, a young biathlete he coached, leading to her attempting suicide. Eileen Carey, who held the position of vice president at the Maine Winter Sports Center during the time of the abuse, was also dismissed.

The dismissals took place on March 14, with Jon Mason, a spokesman for the USOPC, confirming their departure but not providing specific reasons for the action. He mentioned that Colliander had been placed on administrative leave from the Paralympic team in December, shortly after the AP's report on the accusations against him became public.

The two individuals involved, Colliander and Carey, have had a significant history within the sporting community, with Carey having discussed the situation with Boutot's mother during her tenure at the Maine center.

Boutot, who was coached by Colliander at the Maine Winter Sports Center starting in 2006 when she was just 15, experienced distressing behavior from her coach over four years.

According to AP's findings, this misconduct escalated after she turned 18, including inappropriate touching and sexual activities. Boutot's therapist, Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz, shared with the AP a treatment summary that detailed the abuse and Boutot's subsequent severe depression and self-harm.

Despite her pleas for the misconduct to stop, Colliander only ceased coaching Boutot after she overdosed on antidepressants in a suicide attempt during a Utah training camp in October 2010.

He resigned the following day and later took a job with the U.S. Paralympic team, where Carey was already employed. The circumstances of Colliander's hiring at the Paralympic team and the vetting processes for coaches remain unclear, as Mason declined to elaborate.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport, which investigates sexual abuse allegations within Olympic sports, initiated an investigation into Colliander in December. According to Mason, the investigation remains ongoing. Colliander's lawyer, Simone Montoya, stated that her client "adamantly denies any wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior," and is committed to cooperating fully with the investigation.

Attempts to reach Carey for comment were unsuccessful. Boutot's story came to light alongside others from the biathlon community, including Olympian Joanne Reid, who also reported sexual abuse. Boutot, now 34, shared her experiences with the AP, detailing how Colliander's behavior worsened over time and how she struggled with depression and self-harm as a result.

Following her ordeal, Boutot attempted to continue her biathlon career but faced discrimination from the center's staff and teammates. She and her mother, Karen Gorman, attempted to address the abuse with Carey and the center's CEO, Andy Shepard, but felt their concerns were not adequately addressed.

Boutot filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in 2011, accusing the sports center of failing to prevent Colliander's misconduct and retaliating against her for reporting it. The center settled the case for USD 75,000 in September 2011, after which Boutot quit racing.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges within sports organizations in addressing and preventing sexual misconduct and ensuring the safety and well-being of athletes.