Congress launches probe of youth sports giant AAU
- House Energy and Commerce Committee launches bipartisan probe into AAU's systemic failure to protect young athletes.
- Investigators demand answers on why the AAU refuses to publish a list of banned coaches or stop using secret arbitration to silence victims.
- Lawmakers find 'deeply disturbing' parallels between AAU's current culture and the horrific Larry Nassar gymnastics scandal.
- AAU caught lying to the public about providing mandatory child abuse prevention training to coaches.
Brief Summary
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a massive youth sports organization with over 760,000 members, is finally being forced to answer for its shadowy safety record. Following damning reports from ProPublica and The Washington Post, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has launched a formal inquiry into the group’s handling of sexual abuse allegations. The committee is demanding internal data on abuse reports and coach discipline, which the AAU has historically kept hidden behind confidential legal maneuvers.
Why This Matters
If you have a child in youth sports, you need to know that the 'safety' standards you assume exist may be completely nonexistent. The AAU has been operating with almost no oversight, using secret arbitration to keep abuse allegations out of the courtroom and failing to track or ban predatory coaches. This congressional probe is the first step toward stripping away the secrecy surrounding these programs. Pay close attention to these hearings, as they will dictate whether the government finally forces these private sports empires to actually protect your children rather than just protecting their own reputations.