USA Judo removes two board members after USOPC probe

USA Judo has removed two members of its Board of Directors following a compliance investigation by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Nicole Stout-Berliner and Joe Ragan were removed from the Board and all governance roles for a period of ten years. In addition, Gerry Navarro received a formal letter of censure, was taken off all USA Judo committees, and must complete governance education courses at the Board’s direction. The decisions were made at a special board meeting on 10 February 2026 in Colorado Springs, where the federation reviewed a USOPC report examining whether USA Judo met its obligation to foster a culture free from retaliation. The removals are notable because Stout-Berliner and Ragan had been appointed relatively recently as part of efforts to strengthen governance, so their departure represents a significant change at board level in a short time. Board Chair Dr Ron Tripp acknowledged the seriousness of the findings and thanked the USOPC for interviewing many concerned members. He stressed that the Board’s actions show USA Judo will not tolerate interference with good‑faith reporting, and noted that internal processes have been reinforced with an emphasis on professional collaboration going forward. Source: undefined