House Energy and Commerce Leaders of Both Parties Open an Investigation Into the Amateur Athletic Union After ProPublica Finds Banned Coaches Still Working With Kids — "It Is Unacceptable That AAU Is Failing to Implement Standard Reforms to Protect Child Athletes"
On Oct. 7, 2026, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), joined by the Republican chairs and Democratic ranking members of the Oversight and Investigations and the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittees, sent a letter to the Amateur Athletic Union opening a bipartisan inquiry into its handling of sexual abuse allegations. The committee asked for the number of abuse allegations and reports, how complaints are investigated, how coach suspensions and bans are enforced, and what child-safety training the AAU requires, and asked for a briefing. The letter follows an August ProPublica investigation, along with Washington Post reporting, finding that the AAU — which has nearly 800,000 athletes — never carried out reforms it promised after the 2011 abuse scandal involving its former CEO, Robert "Bobby" Dodd, did not require the abuse-prevention training it claimed to offer, and had at least eight coaches banned by other youth sports bodies working with children. The same committee's earlier investigation of abuse in the Olympic and Paralympic movement led to reforms including a public database of banned individuals. The AAU told ProPublica it is "committed to protecting its athletes through comprehensive protection policies overseen by our Compliance Department."
“[Bipartisan letter to AAU leadership from the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Oversight and Commerce subcommittees, demanding records on abuse allegations, complaint investigations, enforcement of coach suspensions and bans, and child-safety training, plus a briefing:] ProPublica's reporting describes numerous abuse cases involving AAU coaches that occurred even after [the organization's updated child protection policies were reportedly put in place in 2012]. … It is unacceptable that AAU is failing to implement standard reforms to protect child athletes.”