U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Puts Coach on Leave amid Athletes' Allegations of Sexual Abuse

U.S. Paralympic Nordic skiing coach Gary Colliander was accused of sexual assault in an Associated Press report earlier this week

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has placed an unnamed employee on administrative leave after allegations and reports about a coach’s sexual abuse came to light, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The committee did not identify the employee it placed on leave, according to the AP, however the only coach named in the allegations was U.S. paralympic skiing coach Gay Colliander.

Colliander was accused of sexual assault by Grace Boutot, who Colliander began coaching when Boutot was 15 years old, according to the AP.

Boutot, now 33, told the outlet Colliander began making inappropriate contact with her while she was underage, from extended hugs to other alleged touching. After she turned 18, according to a treatment summary by therapist Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz, shared with the AP, his physical interactions with her became “kissing, sexual fondling and oral sex.”

Boutot told the outlet she asked the coach to stop, however she alleged that Colliander refuted her and instead threatened that his life and her career would be damaged if she spoke out.

In 2010, Boutot attempted suicide after seeing a therapist who diagnosed her with major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, the AP reported, citing a recent U.S. Center for SafeSport investigation into her allegations.

The AP reported that Boutot’s therapist said in the SafeSport report that Colliander did not stop coaching her “until after the suicide attempt.” He resigned from coaching her the day after her suicide attempt.

Colliander has most recently worked for the U.S. Paralympic team as the team’s nordic skiing coach, a job he took in 2016.

PEOPLE attempted to contact Colliander, but a phone number for him has now been disconnected. The AP previously reported Thursday that Colliander did not return phone messages requesting a comment on the allegations, as well.

Boutot is one of several U.S. Biathlon athletes who have come forward this year following the AP’s reporting on the organization’s alleged history of sexual abuse towards its young athletes by its employees, dating back decades. 

Former U.S. Biathlon national champion Joanne Reid told the AP she was sexually harassed and abused for years, and Reid said it took two years for the organization to adequately step in to take efforts in investigating the allegations after she began making them.

Teammate Deedra Irwin also pressed officials to step in, telling the AP the allegations were an example of “a culture of harassment and misogyny” within U.S. Biathlon. The organization brought the allegations to the U.S. Center for SafeSport in 2021, prompting an official investigation that has led to more revelations of abuse, such as Boutot’s recent allegations.

“The true origin of the misogynistic culture lies with U.S. Biathlon,” Boutot told the AP. “The silence is stunning, to be honest.”

PEOPLE reached out to a spokesperson for U.S. Biathlon and did not yet receive a response.

The alleged lack of initial action from U.S. Biathlon has left Boutot “incredibly disappointed,” the athlete told the AP.

The AP received a copy in regards to what it referred to as “concerning allegations of abuse.”

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“We want to commend these athletes for their immense courage and strength in coming forward,” the email said, according to the AP. “Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.