A sports psychologist represented by Norton Rose Fulbright is suing the U.S. Olympic Committee, claiming its members silenced and discredited him when he tried to shine a light on sexual abuse against athletes.

Dr. Steven Ungerleider alleges the USOC and board member Angela Ruggiero defamed and retaliated against him after learning last autumn he was assembling a commission to draw attention to sexual abuse. According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Boston federal court, Ungerleider had spoken with more than 100 athletes who said they were abused by coaches, doctors or others involved in their training.