Bipartisan Bill Seeks Overhaul of SafeSport to Address Abuse Cases

Proposed legislation aims to expedite investigations, increase funding, and improve support for survivors in Olympic sports.

• The Safer Sports for Athletes Act, introduced by four bipartisan lawmakers, proposes a $10 million annual federal grant for SafeSport, up from the current $2.5 million.
• The bill mandates a 180-day limit for completing abuse investigations, addressing criticism over prolonged case resolutions that have spanned years.
• Reforms include providing free victim advocates, assigning case managers for updates, and enhancing communication with survivors and accused parties.
• SafeSport's leadership has expressed concerns about the feasibility of implementing the bill's mandates without guaranteed funding and flexibility in resource allocation.
• The legislation, which is unlikely to pass in the current Congress, will be reintroduced in January with bipartisan support.

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