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Double Olympic champion Steven Lopez has been temporarily suspended amid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Taekwondo accused of sex trafficking in a federal lawsuit.
Steven Lopez is a gold medallist at Sydney 2000 and in Athens four years later. He has been under interim restrictions since June 19.
According to court records, the four athletes, who are seeking unspecified damages, have accused the USOC and USA Taekwondo of negligence, defamation, obstruction, benefiting from a sex trafficking venture and other allegations.
Means claims Lopez, who denies wrongdoing, drugged and raped her.
A USA Taekwondo investigation into Lopez began three years ago and was turned over to SafeSport last March.
Steven Lopez is one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport and appeared at a special World Taekwondo press conference during Rio 2016 - after the allegations were first made and the USA Taekwondo probe had begun - to promote the sport.
The 39-year-old has already denied any wrongdoing
