US SENATORS are calling for an investigation into the country’s Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics after former sports doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison for molesting athletes in his care.

Democrat Jeanne Shaheen is urging a special committee to look into how Dr Nasser was given unsupervised access to the gymnasts, allowing him to sexually abuse more than 150 women and girls over 25 years.

Her request was announced on Thursday and  backed by senators from across the chamber as the House of Representatives prepares to take up a Senate Bill intended to prevent abuse of athletes.