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Martha Karolyi sidesteps responsibility in Nassar scandal

In this June 29, 2012, file photo, Bela, left, and Martha Karolyi talk on the arena floor before the start of the preliminary round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, Calif. Former USA Gymnastics women's national team coordinator Martha Karolyi and her husband Bela tell NBC they were unaware of the abusive behavior by a former national team doctor now serving decades in prison. Martha Karolyi led the national team for 15 years before retiring after the 2016 Rio Olympics. She tells Savannah Guthrie in "no way" did she suspect Larry Nassar was sexually abusing athletes. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
Associated Press

NEW YORK – Former USA Gymnastics national team coordinator Martha Karolyi says she feels for the sexual abuse victims of a former national team doctor serving decades in prison but added she doesn’t feel she should be held responsible for his actions.

Karolyi told “Dateline NBC” in an episode that aired Sunday she “feels extremely bad” for the victims of Larry Nassar but downplayed the idea the atmosphere she created at the national team training center allowed Nassar’s behavior to run unchecked.

Karolyi led the national team for 15 years before retiring in 2016. She told Savannah Guthrie she did not turn a blind eye to Nassar’s behavior and that the doctor conned her and husband Bela in much the same way he conned the parents and coaches of the athletes who Nassar abused.