COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A high-ranking U.S. judo official resigned amid accusations that nearly 30 years ago he molested teenage competitors he coached.
Fletcher Thornton’s resignation from USA Judo’s board of directors took effect Friday, a day before The New York Times published a story about the allegations.
The governing organization for the sport announced the resignation on its Web site Saturday. A spokeswoman was at a tournament and unavailable for comment Sunday.
The Times’ story said several young athletes in affidavits from 1981 accused Thornton of drugging and sexually molesting teenage competitors he coached in the late 1970s.
Thornton denied the allegations to the newspaper. In June, American judo medal hopeful Ronda Rousey posted a blog about the issue.
The U.S. Olympic Committee on Saturday said an inquiry would look into the allegations. USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel did not immediately return a call.
