Athlete Safety

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community is committed to providing a positive, healthy and safe environment for American athletes that is free from emotional, physical and sexual abuse.  To protect and ensure the safety of athletes – regardless of age, gender or stage of development – the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and member National Governing Bodies are under the jurisdiction of an independent entity, the U.S. Center for SafeSport.


 

How to Report a Concern

The USOPC recognizes it can be difficult to report an allegation of misconduct and strives to remove barriers to reporting. Reports can be made via online form, email or phone, and can be made anonymously. In case of an emergency, call 911 immediately.



Law Enforcement

All cases of suspected emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) must be reported to law enforcement (or in some states child protective services) immediately. The appropriate agency is most often the local law enforcement office where the incident occurred. 

Additionally, if either party is a participant in the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic movements, a report must be filed with the U.S. Center for SafeSport. 



U.S. Center for SafeSport

All allegations of sexual misconduct and emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor, that involve a participant in the U.S. Olympic of Paralympic movements, must be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The Center has the exclusive jurisdiction to respond and resolve allegations of sexual misconduct and may determine to take discretionary jurisdiction over other forms of abuse (i.e. emotional, physical, bullying, hazing or harassment). If the Center does not exercise discretionary jurisdiction, it may direct the allegation to the appropriate National Governing Body (click here for a full NGB directory).

Click here to report a concern to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or call (720) 531-0340. 

All cases of suspected emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) must be reported to law enforcement immediately. Filing a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport does not satisfy this obligation. 

 


U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Office of Athlete Safety

Contact the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s office of Athlete Safety to report any allegations of abuse.

 

  • The USOPC will report all allegations of sexual abuse, and emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor, to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
  • The USOPC will refer allegations of emotional or physical abuse to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and/or the appropriate National Governing Body. 

Report an incident to the USOPC's office of Athlete Safety or call (719) 866-3869. 

All cases of suspected emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) must be reported to law enforcement (see above) immediately. Filing a report with the USOC's office of athlete safety does not satisfy this obligation.

Suspended Individuals & Disciplinary Records

The U.S. Center for SafeSport maintains a centralized database of suspended and banded individuals, and disciplinary records of sexual misconduct and abuse cases that have been adjudicated by the Center and National Governing Bodies.

Suspended Individuals

U.S. Center for SafeSport Centralized Disciplinary Database

FAQs

If you hear, observe, experience or learn of any emotional, physical or sexual conduct that you feel may violate the SafeSport Code of Conduct – report it, even if the incident happened in the past or if you are unsure if it violates the code. By reporting, you play an important role in directing the impacted individuals to trained professionals who can offer the best assistance and support.  

For members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements, it is required by federal law to report any form of abuse involving a minor to both the U.S. Center for SafeSport and law enforcement (or in some states child protective services) within 24 hours. However, given the variability in state law and to address any imminent risk to the minor, we direct any individual who has reason to suspect any form of child abuse to report it immediately.

After a report is submitted, jurisdiction is then established either by the U.S. Center for SafeSport or by the sport’s National Governing Body. The entity with jurisdiction is then responsible for response and resolution. Often, third-party reporters will not find out what happens with a case once they make a report. We realize you care, but these details are to remain confidential to ensure the safety and discretion of all parties involved, while upholding the integrity of the investigation.
The SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements defines and prohibits six primary types of misconduct, including sexual, emotional, physical, bullying, harassment and hazing. It applies to any individual who (a) currently is, or was at the time of a possible violation, within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of a National Governing Body or who is seeking to be within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of an NGB (e.g., through application for membership); (b) is an athlete or non-athlete participant that an NGB or the USOPC formally authorizes, approves or appoints to a position of authority over athletes, or to have frequent contact with athletes; or (c) an NGB identifies as being within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Response and Resolution Office.
The USOPC's Athlete Safety Policy applies to USOPC employees, coaches, contracted staff, volunteers, board members, committee and task force members, and other individuals working with athletes or other sport participants while at a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, or a USOPC-sponsored or delegation event; athletes training and/or residing at an OPTC or a delegation event; individuals the USOPC formally authorizes, approves or appoints (a) to position of authority over; or (b) in frequent contact with athletes. It prohibits all forms of misconduct, including sexual, emotional, physical, bullying, harassment and hazing as set out in the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements as adopted by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. 
In 2019, the USOPC doubled its annual funding to $6.2 million for the U.S. Center for SafeSport to enable the hiring of more investigators and staff, improve the timely resolution of cases, enhance ongoing communication for victims and their families, provide age-appropriate training on recognizing and helping to prevent abuse, and offer better and more accessible resources online.
In 2010, the USOPC determined that sexual and physical abuse warranted greater attention and convened a working group of internal and external experts to provide recommendations about how to improve the community's prevention and response efforts. As the recommendations were implemented, the USOPC concluded that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements would benefit from the creation of an independent entity dedicated to investigating and resolving all allegations of sexual abuse associated with any of the USOPC's recognized NGBs.