Steele will remain in place until September 13.

He has served as chief executive since October 2007.

The USABS’s Board of Directors did not cite a specific reason for the change.

Steele was under contract through to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

"We thank Darrin for his 12 years of dedicated service as chief executive and for his many contributions to the sport," Robert Bergbauer, chair of the USABS Board, said.

"This was a very difficult decision.

"We are grateful for Darrin’s guidance, but the Board feels it’s time for a fresh perspective as we head into the future.

"We’re looking forward to continuing Team USA’s success through 2022 and beyond."

John Rosen, the chair of USABS’s Emeritus Board, will assume the role of interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is selected and retained.

Rosen will work alongside Steele through to the middle of next month to help with the transition.

The Board has launched a Search Committee to evaluate candidates and select the new chief executive.

Steele competed for the United States' bobsleigh team at the Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics prior to his 12-year tenure as chief executive of USABS.

The US team won nine Olympic and 21 World Championship medals under Steele’s leadership.

"I’m incredibly grateful for the past 12 years with USABS,"Steele said.

"I’ve been able to work with some amazing people and shared some incredible moments that I’ll never forget.

"I’m proud of the work we’ve done, and I wish the organisation well as the baton is passed to the next federation leader."

Steele will continue serving as the vice-president of sport for the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation while completing his PhD dissertation in educational leadership, research and policy from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

America's bobsleigh and skeleton teams managed just one medal at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

That came courtesy of two-woman bobsleigh silver for Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs.