Olympian Lolo Jones has accused USA Bobsled and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) of negligence, claiming she was denied proper medical treatment after sustaining a severe spinal injury during a bobsled crash. Jones alleges that the lack of care could have resulted in permanent paralysis.

According to reports, Jones was injured while testing a new sled and racing position in preparation for the 2025 World Championships in Lake Placid, New York. Following the incident, she experienced significant pain, numbness, leg instability, foot drop, and loss of bladder control. Jones stated on X, formerly Twitter, that she was denied medical assessments such as X-rays and MRIs, and was restricted to one massage per week, despite having received one days earlier.

"The worst part? USA Bobsled and the USOPC put me back in a bobsled without ever ordering an MRI or properly evaluating my injury, risking permanent paralysis," Jones wrote. She competed in the 2025 World Championships with pilot Elena Meyers Taylor, finishing sixth, without knowing the full extent of her spinal injury.

Jones also reported being banned from the Olympic Training Committee after an argument with an official, which she claims further restricted her access to training and medical resources. A spokesperson for the USOPC, Julie Marra, stated that Jones violated the OPTC Code of Conduct but did not provide specific details.

Since the incident, Jones has reportedly spent $100,000 of her own money on training and treatment, including an MRI that revealed a herniated disc, tears in three vertebrae, and spinal fluid leakage, leading to subsequent surgery. The USOPC has reportedly admitted to wrongfully denying Jones medical care, and a partial reinstatement of her ban was offered on July 3.

Jones, who competed in track at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics and in bobsled at the 2014 Sochi Games, is currently training by pushing a Honda due to her restricted access to bobsled facilities. She remains one of the few athletes to have represented the U.S. in multiple Olympic sports.