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Report: Ohio State University failed to act while former team doctor sexually abused 177 men
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Ohio State University has released the findings of an independent investigation into the actions of former team physician Dr. Richard Strauss.
Yahoo! Sports reported on Friday that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 men in 16 sports while acting as a team physician from 1979-1997. The investigation also found that Ohio State University failed to stop the actions of Strauss, despite knowing of his actions.
Strauss retired from Ohio State in 1998 and committed suicide in 2005. He is accused of groping and fondling, performing unnecessary and prolonged genital and rectal examinations, requiring unnecessary nudity and performing oral sex, among other accusations.
Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake released a statement on Friday:
In April 2018, the university announced an independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against Dr. Richard Strauss, who was employed by Ohio State from 1978 to 1998. Strauss died in 2005.
We established and announced the independent investigation after allegations were brought to the university’s attention last spring. The independent investigation is now complete.
The findings are shocking and painful to comprehend.
On behalf of the university, we offer our profound regret and sincere apologies to each person who endured Strauss’ abuse. Our institution’s fundamental failure at the time to prevent this abuse was unacceptable — as were the inadequate efforts to thoroughly investigate complaints raised by students and staff members.
According to the report, several student-athletes did not file a complaint at the time because they were afraid of losing their spot on the team or causing issues within the athletic department. Others say they felt the abuse was a form of “hazing.”
Strauss’s abuse spanned over nearly a 20-year period and across 16 sports at Ohio State.
You can view the full statement from President Drake here.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB