Thanks to Larry Nassar, being a coach or a team doctor is going to get a whole lot harder

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TSX HEADLINES – for May 25, 2018: The House sub-committee hearing on the sexual abuse of Olympic athletes on Thursday painted a picture of a new day in the U.S. Olympic community for coaches and others who work with athletes.

Although fairly slow and ponderous for most of the time, the discussion heated up in the final hour, with some polite, but pointed suggestions from several representatives concerning deeper background checks for coaches and possibly instituting drug-testing, and a much closer look at who provides medical treatment for athletes. One House member, himself a physician, pointedly asked how Larry Nassar, licensed to practice medicine in Michigan, was able to treat athletes at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas … where he was not licensed.

Acting United States Olympic Committee chief Susanne Lyons did a commendable job as a witness, but made clear that the relationship between the USOC and the national governing bodies has changed and will change some more. Translation: much more control from Colorado Springs, certainly in the athlete safety area, but look for it to spread to other areas, because the House members were clear that the USOC will be held accountable.

The hearing also introduced Shellie Pfohl, the head of the U.S. Center for Safe Sport, which opened in March 2017 and after getting 20-30 reports of abuse a month at the start, is now receiving that many each week. And the Center needs more money, which the USOC and the NGBs will be pressured to provide.

Much more in-depth coverage of the hearing in our Lane One commentary, plus a look ahead to a sensational weekend in track & field:

(1) THE TICKER: Trouble for the Swiss bid for Sion for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, as polling shows its referendum in deep trouble with three weeks to go.

(2) THE BIG PICTURE: The sports program for the first World Beach Games in San Diego is set, with 15 sports and 17 disciplines announced for the event in October 2019.

(3) GLOBETROTTING: Phil Hersh reviews a new proposal to the International Skating Union raise the age of female figure skaters to allow women to compete with the girls!

(4) ATHLETICS: If you could create a perfect meet on paper, the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene this weekend might be it. Consider this: both days will be shown live on U.S. television! Keep a special lookout for stars Christian Coleman and Allyson Felix!

(5) CYCLING: Defending champion Tom Dumoulin cut has all but 28 seconds out of the once-big lead held by Britain’s Simon Yates with three stages left. Can he catch Yates and become the first repeat winner in 25 years?

This issue includes ON DECK previews of Athletics ~ Canoeing ~ Cycling ~ Swimming ~ Volleyball, and SCOREBOARD reports on Cycling, plus AGENDA, our exclusive calendar of upcoming international events!

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