At the same time, some of the very athletes the federation is trying to help are angered that they have been kept out of the loop in key decisions.
The federation, in response to the nationwide protests following George Floyd's killing, said it "stands with those who demand equality.” After that, CEO Sarah Hirshland announced the formation of an athletes' working group that will, among other things, look into changing the IOC’s longstanding rule banning political protests on Olympic medals stands.
But Hirshland’s first show of support for the athletes was immediately panned by Gwen Berry, the African American hammer thrower who drew a 12-month probation from the USOPC after she raised her fist on the medals stand last summer at the Pan American Games.