Olympic Shooter Suspended for Sexual Harassment

Some shocking news today about the U.S. Olympic team that’s heading to Tokyo…

USA Shooting, the governing body for America’s shooting sports, has just learned that Olympic Team Nominee Keith Sanderson will not be allowed to compete in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Sanderson has been excluded from the team for sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. The suspension, which spans for three months, is the first of its kind for any USA Shooting member or staffer. The U.S. Center for SafeSport levied the suspension. Now, USA Shooting has announced the shooter who will fill Sanderson’s quota space, Tokyo Alternate Jack Leverett III.

“This is a somber day for our organization, but we must remain focused on our final preparations for Tokyo. We have an excellent young team that has been bringing home the hardware from the recent World Cups in India and Italy,” said Matt Suggs, CEO of USA Shooting. “USA Shooting remains committed to the safety of our athletes, staff, and volunteers and SafeSport is an important part of that commitment.”

Tokyo Alternate Jack Leverett III has been promoted to fill Sanderson’s quota place in Men’s 25M Rapid Fire Pistol, and will compete alongside his brother Henry Leverett. This year’s Olympic team is led by two-time Olympic Champion Vincent Hancock (Men’s Skeet) and includes the World #2 and #3 10m Air Rifle shooters Mary Tucker and Lucas Kozeniesky. Nick Mowrer (Men’s 10m Air Pistol and 50m Smallbore Rifle) of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) will be the only athlete in Tokyo competing in both Rifle and Pistol events.

Also showcased on arguably the world’s strongest shotgun team are two new young stars, Austen Smith (Women’s Skeet) and Maddy Bernau (Women’s Trap), who recently won gold and silver, respectively, at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy.

Athletes from the U.S. Shooting Team have won 115 medals in Olympic and Paralympic competition since the modern Olympics began in 1896, nearly twice the medal count of the next nation. The Tokyo Olympic Games will begin July 23, 2021, with opening ceremonies; shooting events will take place from July 24 to August 2, 2021.