Following allegations of sexual assault, a Michigan State University doctor who once served as team doctor for USA Gymnastics has been fired by the university.
Dr. Larry Nassar was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault and molesting an underage victim.
The suit was filed by a woman identified only as Jane J.D. Doe, who is described as a medal winning US gymnast at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
MSU issued a statement Tuesday that said, in part, "The decision was made to initiate the faculty process to terminate Nassar’s fixed-term appointment. On Sept. 20, he was fired."
The MSU statement also addressed a 2014 complaint filed regarding the doctor.
"In 2014, MSU authorities investigated a complaint of misconduct against Larry Nassar. The complaint, filed by a recent female MSU graduate at the time, involved an allegation of abuse during a medical procedure. An administrative investigation revealed no violation of MSU policy, and the local prosecutor’s office did not file charges after an investigation by MSU police. During the investigation, Nassar was temporarily reassigned from his clinical and patient duties," said a statement from MSU spokesman Jason Cody.
The lawsuit filed earlier this month alleges that Nassar "groped and fondled the victim's private parts under the guise of performing osteopathic therapy."
A news release announcing the lawsuit said the victim alleged that Nassar "performed a procedure he called an 'inter-vaginal adjustment.'"
Nassar was the team doctor for USA Gymnastics at the time of the alleged assault.
The lawsuit also alleges that USA Gymnastics, "Breached its duty to reveal the abuse to the victim's family, the US Olympic Committee and law enforcement agencies."
Michigan State's website described Nassar as an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology, Division of Sports Medicine and teaches sports medicine and physical exam skills to the first and second year medical students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at M.S.U.
Michigan State University Statement:
Larry Nassar was reassigned from his clinical and patient duties Aug. 30 immediately after the university first received notice of the allegations of sexual misconduct. Over the past week, the university received additional information that raised serious concerns about Nassar’s compliance with certain employment requirements.
Those requirements were put in place after a 2014 investigation into alleged misconduct by Nassar, and information was received that indicates those requirements were not consistently met. The university also learned Nassar was not forthcoming when questioned about other previous allegations.
Given the seriousness of those concerns, the decision was made to initiate the faculty process to terminate Nassar’s fixed-term appointment. On Sept. 20, he was fired. It is important to note this decision does not affect the ongoing investigations by MSU Police and MSU’s Office of Institutional Equity of allegations of sexual abuse.
Investigation into 2014 allegation
In 2014, MSU authorities investigated a complaint of misconduct against Larry Nassar. The complaint, filed by a recent female MSU graduate at the time, involved an allegation of abuse during a medical procedure. An administrative investigation revealed no violation of MSU policy, and the local prosecutor’s office did not file charges after an investigation by MSU police. During the investigation, Nassar was temporarily reassigned from his clinical and patient duties.
--Jason Cody, MSU spokesman
