[caption id="attachment_62820" align="alignright" width="194"] LEILA NAVIDI / LAS VEGAS SUN
Andy Gabel is a four-time, short track speedskating U.S. Olympian and holds a silver medal as a member of the 1994 5000 meter Short Track relay team.[/caption]Ex Skater now latest Target of Sex Abuse Allegations

As a quadruple Olympian team member the name Andy Gabel was one which was synonymous with fame and distinguished athletic honors. The past week has now pushed Gabel's name back into the news, although in a most unfavorable light.

Now Gabel finds himself at the center of a sex abuse investigation, reports MSN News.

A young woman has stepped forward and accused the former skating organization president of sexual crimes that took place when Gabel was 33 and she was only 15.

An internal investigation has already been initiated by the U.S. Speedskating organization. The woman in question has been identified as Birdie Farrell. Ms. Farrell was a young skater in training at the time of these alleged incidents. There are reports that Gable showed a certain degree of favoritism to the teenager during 1997-1998 when both were attending the same training camp.

According to Farrell there was a series of repeated sexual contact that occurred over an extended time period. Although the incidents are alleged to have taken place more than a decade ago there could be substantial legal fallout for Andy Gabel.

Gabel is an Olympic speedskating medalist who has a loyal fan base. He is also very active in the sporting community and has served a term as former president of the US Speedskating Organization. These are the first allegations to surface against him but there is a chance that other accusations may be forthcoming.

Andy Gabel, four-time U.S. speedskating Olympian and former organization president, has been accused of sexual abuse of a female skater in the 1990s.
http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/us-speedskating-eyeing-sexual-abuse-allegations