The U.S. Center for SafeSport announced Wednesday the firing of its executive director, Ju’Riese Colon, on Tuesday, in what represents the latest and most telling sign of a crisis that began after revelations that the center had hired an investigator who would later be charged with rape. The decision was communicated by the center via an email sent to the ‘Associated Press,’ ending Colon’s management of a center, U.S. Center for SafeSport, created in 2017 to combat sexual abuse in Olympic sports. The U.S. wants to arrive in the best possible shape for Los Angeles 2028.

The center reported that board chair April Holmes will head an interim management committee made up of board members while a replacement for Colon is sought. In a statement, Holmes said, “We are grateful for Ju’Riese’s leadership and service. As we look ahead, we will continue to focus on the Center’s core mission: changing the sports culture to keep athletes safe from abuse.” It must be a model and example to society and to a planet that will focus its attention the summer of 2028 on the Los Angeles Olympics.

A tenure marked by operational challenges

During Colon’s five-plus years at the helm of the Denver-based center -from 2019 to 2025- she failed to fully resolve issues related to long delays in resolving cases, which have been growing due to the increasing volume of allegations. In addition, the center faced a steady stream of complaints from both complainants and defendants, who criticized lengthy resolution processes that, in some cases, could stretch for years.

The hiring of an investigator accused of rape

The crisis that led to Colon’s firing intensified after it became known that the center had hired Jason Krasley, a former investigator who was later charged with rape and other sex crimes related to his time as a police officer in Pennsylvania. Krasley was fired in November 2022 after being arrested for allegedly stealing money during a police raid in 2019, before joining SafeSport.

Colon’s firing leaves the U.S. Center for SafeSport at a new starting point in its mission to protect athletes and ensure a safe sports environment. The search for new leadership will be key to addressing the organization’s reputational challenges in the lead-up to Los Angeles 2028, among others, while continuing its work in the U.S. Olympic movement.