USA Judo Prepares Statement to USOC on Official Accused of Molesting Athletes

Mr. Smith: I appreciate you for at least calling attention to the Judo issue. However, you failed to address the bigger issue among the athletes, those who have been wrongfully cheated of their privilege to represent this country because of unethical, dishonest, and shameful practices of USA Judo referees. I am personally interested in establishing contact and discussing these matters with you in detail.

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"The bigger issue" is not scoring... but the integrity of our sport and the safety of our participants. The foundation of Judo is respect, honor, and mutual benefit and welfare. Dr. Kano did not intend for Judo to be degraded into merely a blood-lust sport that tolerates sexual misconduct or violence.

By the way, I was at the Trials and there was some bad calls, but you, Mr. Turner, got away with a lot and should have been kicked out for biting Daniel McCormick several times.... The whole stadium saw you fighting really dirty, apparently the refs did not.

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I think Rhonda Rousey showed a lot of integrity and courage speaking out for what's right. Let's focus less on politics and more on keeping our sport safe and honorable!!!!! Anyone else who has info related to any misconduct should come out and help justice be served.

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The statement to the USOC needs to be made public.

Tomas Drgon
Coach, Baltimore Judo Club
Baltimore MD

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USA Judo is in CYA mode on this one and is NOT handling the issue properly.

Their statement is full of outright falsehoods.

I have been in contact with Ronda Rousey's mother, Dr. AnnMaria DeMarsregarding this issue.
Here is her statement sent directly to the USOC.

Date: July 20, 2008
To: United States Olympic Committee
From: AnnMaria Rousey De Mars
Subject: False statement by USA Judo Regarding Alleged Child Molester Fletcher Thornton

Let me state unequivocally that the statement issued by USA Judo regarding Fletcher Thornton is FALSE.
Complaints were made in 2005 by both me and by a young woman who was sexually abused as a minor female athlete. NEITHER of us were EVER notified of any hearing that occurred in 1982 or 1983. How we could appear as witnesses when neither of us were notified that a hearing occurred is baffling to me. I won the Senior Nationals in 1983. The young woman who wrote the 2005 complaint that she was molested by Fletcher was at the same event. Neither of us were among the original complainants nor were we even aware at that time that a hearing had occurred nor any investigation. If anyone had wanted to ask either of us about these events at either the U.S. Open or the Senior Nationals we were there. Anyone could have found us on the medal stand.
I filed a complaint of sexual harassment. The other young woman filed a complaint of sexual abuse occurring when she was 16. I am one of her witnesses as I had heard about it at the time at the junior nationals. There are other witnesses to similar events as those reported in the affidavits in the 1980s who were provided alcohol by Fletcher when they were under age. They were not notified either.

There is no evidence to show that I, nor the woman whose 2005 affidavit your attorney has, were ever notified a hearing occurred. I would have gone as her witness, had I been notified. There were others who would have gone as witnesses, had they been notified. All of us are willing to state under oath that we NEVER were told that an investigation was occurring or had occurred. I had no knowledge about this until I received the affidavits in the mail from an anonymous source in 2004 and I immediately contacted USA Judo.

The USA Judo argument seems to be this:

In the 1980s, some people stated that Fletcher Thornton had sex with them as minor athletes. They did not appear at hearing we held. Therefore, we are not going to hear any more complaints from women who say Fletcher sexually harassed or molested them even if they were not one of the original complainants, did not know a hearing occurred, were never contacted and did not know the findings existed.

I would think that if you had several complaints of sexual abuse at one point, and then later you have an additional person come forward who also states she was sexually abused by the same person, you would take that MORE seriously, not dismiss it.
AnnMaria Rousey De Mars
1982 U.S. Open Gold Medalist and 1983 Senior National Champion
(310) 717 –9089 Drannmaria@fractaldomains.com

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Typical politics...whether Government or Olympics. The US is as corrupt as the countries we profess to save from corruption.

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I am very curious how many of the USA Judo Board of Directors would trust Fletcher Thornton with THEIR OWN children.

Perhaps an ambitious reporter will do just that.

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The United States Judo Association has suspended Fletcher Thornton.

Also, there is an article in the New York Times on the charges from multiple athletes about molestation.

That article states that the USOC has opened an investigation into these charges.

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