Skeleton coach not going to Turin after all

The USOC throws the book at Jim Nardiello.

Published January 25, 2006 3:27PM (EST)

Reversing a decision made earlier this week in an arbitration hearing, the U.S. Olympic Committee has refused to allow Tim Nardiello -- accused of sexually harassing athletes under his watch -- to coach the skeleton team at the Turin Olympics, the New York Times reports. The USOC, whose lawyers interviewed 12 skeleton athletes and other witnesses to Nardiello's behavior, found that he had violated the coaches' ethics code and had engaged in "inappropriate interactions."

The USOC's chief executive, Jim Scherr, also "took aim at the [United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation] for what he said was poor handling of the accusations, which stretch back to 2002, calling it 'unacceptable.' He criticized the federation for initially deciding to ask for Nardiello's resignation, but only after the Olympics."

Nardiello, who called this whole thing a "political game," is free to appeal the ruling.


By Lynn Harris

Award-winning journalist Lynn Harris is author of the comic novel "Death by Chick Lit" and co-creator of BreakupGirl.net. She also writes for the New York Times, Glamour, and many others.

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