Problems abound, however. For instance, with the Turin Winter Games set to begin in a month, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation is to appear Monday in a state court in Upstate New York to show cause for suspending the U.S. skeleton coach, Tim Nardiello, who has been accused of sexual harassment by female athletes.
The federation has launched an investigation into the allegations and the USOC is conducting a separate investigation.
Last year, the taekwondo federation was reorganized amid management and financial concerns.
The modern pentathlon federation dissolved itself last year amid heavy debt, and the USOC is now overseeing the sport.
The triathlon federation last year considered, but rejected, a proposal to split from the USOC.
The volleyball complaint was made even as the USOC is seeking, through a complaint filed Dec. 19, the decertification of USA Team Handball. At issue are governing and financial concerns linked both to U.S. handball's longtime futility on the playing field and to a revolt on the board sparked by the purported federation president, Mike Hurdle of Duluth, Ga.
Team handball has long been popular in Europe and has been a mainstay on the Olympic program since 1972. It is virtually unknown in the United States, however, and the U.S. record in the Games, according to Olympic author David Wallechinsky, is "a dismal 4 wins, 26 losses and 1 tie."
The Dec. 19 complaint refers to a Nov. 2 e-mail written by Hurdle in which he describes his secretary as a "blonde with a nice fake rack." He also says he would not be offering apologies to those with differing views about his management: "Hitler didn't apologize, so I guess I shouldn't either."
Hurdle did not respond Friday to requests seeking comment.
According to the complaint, in balloting conducted Dec. 2, the board voted to remove Hurdle from the presidency by a vote of 19-2. On Dec. 5, the complaint says, he sent a note announcing that all members of the board were "automatically relieved of their duty."
The complaint also says the NGB is "effectively bankrupt," noting the USOC was notified Aug. 29 that the handball federation had $8.47 in its checking account.
Financial issues are key in the volleyball dispute as well.
Top foreign players are often accompanied by coaches, massage therapists and video crews -- who tape matches for review of opponents' tendencies. U.S. players often do their own taping, said Dain Blanton, who teamed with Fonoimoana for gold in 2000.
