Senator 'appalled' at U.S. Figure Skating's response to coach-skater relationship

Christine Brennan | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Athletes critical of USOC, governing bodies' failure to protect from sexual abuse SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Rachel Axon discusses Senate subcommittee hearing where former athletes criticized the national governing bodies for their sport as well as the USOC and others for failing to prevent and stop sexual abuse.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate subcommittee that is examining U.S. Olympic sports in the wake of their sex abuse scandals, said Wednesday evening that he was “just appalled” by a statement from a U.S. Figure Skating spokeswoman that focused on a Delaware law that stipulates a 16- or 17-year-old can legally consent to sex with a partner under the age of 30.

"I’m just appalled that an official in one of these organizations would seem to condone (this)," Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a telephone interview with USA TODAY Sports.

“Seeming to absolve it legally appears to condone it, and that’s virtually unbelievable to me.”

More: Official's sexual relationship with 16-year-old skater draws scrutiny

Christopher Pottenger, a 31-year-old USFS official and coach, was suspended for six months in 2010 by the Professional Skaters Association for “inappropriate and unethical conduct,” which three people with direct knowledge of the situation say was a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male skater.

Pottenger was 22 at the time of his relationship with the skater, whose name is not being used by USA TODAY Sports because of his age at the time. Pottenger did not coach the skater, although their respective roles took them to some of the same rinks and competitions.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is investigating Pottenger regarding the 2009 relationship, according to a person with direct knowledge of the investigation. All of the people spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

“As the story clearly stated, the actions described were not illegal in Delaware,” USFS spokeswoman Barb Reichert said in an email to USA TODAY Sports Monday night.

Asked for a response to Blumenthal's comments, Reichert emailed: "U.S. Figure Skating works tirelessly to provide a safe and healthy environment for our athletes."

“Cases like these are exactly why we set up the U.S. Center for SafeSport,” U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky said Wednesday night. “Given the case is with them, we are confident it will come to a necessary resolution.”

Said Blumenthal: “Coaches have a trust, they have a profoundly solid responsibility. The phrase that we hear repeated often is grooming, that the coaches were grooming these athletes for sexual relations. Could they consent? My answer in these circumstances is no. Whether it’s against the law in a particular state in my view is beside the point.”

Blumenthal, who held a hearing with elite athlete survivors of abuse Wednesday in Hartford, Conn., said he would like USFS to be among those present at the next hearing of the Senate subcommittee investigating sex abuse in Olympic sports, which is scheduled for May 22 in Washington.

"My personal hope is that U.S. Figure Skating will be present. I hope they’ll be there voluntarily,” he said.

"To seemingly condone (a sexual relationship between a 22-year-old coach and 16-year-old skater) sends exactly the wrong message for this governing body. It should be condemning and denouncing this behavior.”