Ohio State Asks Alumni For Info On Alleged Misconduct By Sports Doctor

Gabe Rosenberg, WOSU

The Ohio State University is asking alumni for information related to an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by a former university sports doctor.

In April, Ohio State began looking into allegations against longtime wrestling doctor Richard Strauss, who died in 2005. Investigators subsequently received confidential reports about Strauss from male student-athletes in eight sports.

On Monday, President Michael Drake sent an email request to some 112,613 alumni who attended Ohio State from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, when the misconduct allegedly occured. He asked people bring forward any information they have related to the allegations.

Drake asked alumni to contact the Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie LLP, which was hired by Ohio State to conduct the independent investigation.

"These serious allegations are incompatible with the core values of who we are as a university community," Drake said in the email.

According to university spokesperson Chris Davey, the president sent the email on behalf of Perkins Coie as part of its investigation.

"Everybody's making every effort to make sure we have a thorough investigation that gets to the bottom of this," Davey said.

The university recently expanded its investigation into allegations of Strauss, after  learning the doctor also worked at Ohio State's medical center and student health center. Investigators have so far heard from athletes involved in cheerleading, fencing, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming and volleyball.

The matter has also been referred to Columbus Police and the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office for a potential criminal investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.