The News
Monday 04 of November 2024

Wrestlers sue Ohio State over doctor's sexual misconduct


FILE - This undated file photo shows a photo of Dr. Richard Strauss. Former Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee and former vice president of human resources Linda Tom tell The Columbus Dispatch they don't remember receiving any complaints about the now-dead doctor, Strauss. (Ohio State University via AP, File),FILE - This undated file photo shows a photo of Dr. Richard Strauss. Former Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee and former vice president of human resources Linda Tom tell The Columbus Dispatch they don't remember receiving any complaints about the now-dead doctor, Strauss. (Ohio State University via AP, File)
FILE - This undated file photo shows a photo of Dr. Richard Strauss. Former Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee and former vice president of human resources Linda Tom tell The Columbus Dispatch they don't remember receiving any complaints about the now-dead doctor, Strauss. (Ohio State University via AP, File),FILE - This undated file photo shows a photo of Dr. Richard Strauss. Former Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee and former vice president of human resources Linda Tom tell The Columbus Dispatch they don't remember receiving any complaints about the now-dead doctor, Strauss. (Ohio State University via AP, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A lawsuit by four former Ohio State University wrestlers alleges the school failed to stop “rampant sexual misconduct” by a now-dead team doctor despite being repeatedly informed about his behavior.

In the federal lawsuit filed Monday, four Ohio men listed as John Does say Richard Strauss sexually assaulted or harassed them in the late 1980s or 1990s. The wrestlers’ lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.

The university didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

An independent investigation about Strauss began after such allegations were raised earlier this year. Ohio State says the allegations involve men from 14 sports

Strauss worked for the university for two decades, retiring in 1998. He killed himself in 2005.

His family has said they were “shocked and saddened” to learn of the allegations.