Larry Nassar: Former USA Gymnastics doctor transferred to high security prison

Physician accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young women and girls is expected to die behind bars

More than 260 women have claimed they were sexually abused by Larry Nassar (Reuters)

Disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar has been transferred to a high security prison following his conviction for molesting young athletes.

The 54-year-old had been sent to the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona, The Federal Bureau of Prisons said. The facility holds around 1,390 inmates.

Nassar, who also worked as a doctor at Michigan State University, is thought to have sexually assaulted at least 265 young women and girls, often under the guise of treatment.

Several high-profile victims have come forward, including 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts McKayla Maroney, and Aly Raisman.

The physician admitted to assaulting at least 10 of the women who have made complaints.

However, at his sentencing hearing last month in Michigan, Eaton County Judge Janice Cunningham said there could be an “infinite” number of unidentified victims affected by the scandal.

Nassar was first sentenced to 60 years in a federal jail in July 2017 after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

He was then sentenced to 40 to 175 years behind bars after admitting seven counts of sexual assault of minors in January.

At a final hearing last week, Nassar received an additional 40 to 125-year sentence for three additional counts of sexual assault.

His sentences will run consecutively, ensuring he will die in prison.

United States Olympic Committee chief executive Larry Probst told a press conference ahead of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, that the system had “failed” young athletes subject to abuse.

A string of senior officials at both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University have also been forced to resign in recent weeks as the scale of Nassar’s abuse became clear.