USA Swimming denies coverup

• Tweet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The governing body of competitive swimming in the United States has denied involvement in a coverup of alleged sexual misconduct by coaches.

USA Swimming said in a statement issued Tuesday it has no connection to a lawsuit filed by coach Dia Riandra against coach Mark Schubert. Rianda alleges Schubert hired a private investigator to photograph coach Sean Hutchinson in compromising positions with a female swimmer Hutchinson was coaching, The Orange County (Calif.) Register reported Wednesday.

Schubert earlier was fired from his position as U.S. national team director in 2010, but after USA Swimming learned of the allegations against Hutchinson, the organization reached a $625,000 settlement as part of a "confidentiality agreement," Rianda's suit says.

Hutchinson was cleared of wrongdoing by USA Swimming in 2011.

"USA Swimming is not a party to the lawsuit between Dia Rianda and Mark Schubert. However, because the suit makes various gratuitous accusations against USA Swimming, we will address the false premise underlying those accusations," the statement said.