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Team USA's Gabby Douglas claims sexual abuse by team doctor

By The Sports Xchange
American gymnast Gabby Douglas (R) hugs teammate Aly Raisman after Douglas completed her routine in the Uneven Bars during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team Finals of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. File photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
American gymnast Gabby Douglas (R) hugs teammate Aly Raisman after Douglas completed her routine in the Uneven Bars during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team Finals of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. File photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

Another member of the US Olympic gymnastics team has come forward with sexual abuse claims against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Gabby Douglas wrote in an Instagram post, "It would be like saying that because of the leotards we wore, it was our fault that we were abused by Larry Nassar. I didn't publicly share my experiences as well as many other things because for years we were conditioned to stay silent and honestly some things were extremely painful."

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Douglas, 21, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist who competed in 2012 and 2016.

Earlier this month, Aly Raisman -- Douglas' teammate on the last two Olympic teams -- came forward alleging that Nassar had abused her. Prior to that, McKayla Maroney shared in an Instagram post that Nassar abused her from when she was 13. Jamie Dantzscher, a bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney Games, also said Nassar abused her.

"We are all in this together," Raisman tweeted Friday. "If we are going to create change I need all your help."

Nassar, who is being sued by 125 women and girls, was USA Gymnastics' team physician for nearly 20 years, beginning in 1996. USA Gymnastics fired him in the summer of 2015. The 54-year-old agreed to plead guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and faces at least 25 years in prison. He is charged with molesting several girls while working for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. He is also awaiting sentencing for child pornography.

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