COLUMBUS – A former Ohio State athletic physician sexually abused nearly 200 students, mostly young male athletes, over the course of a 20-year career and neither university officials nor a state governing body did anything to stop it or discipline Dr. Richard Strauss, according to a report from independent investigators released Friday.
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“The findings of the report have shaken us to our core,” university Board of Trustees chair Michael Gasser said.
The 182-page report on the investigation details acts of sexual abuse against at least 177 former students between 1979 and 1998, while Strauss served as an athletic and student health services physician, and concludes that more than 20 school officials and staff members, including two athletic directors, one university president and a coach who is now a congressman, had knowledge of complaints or concerns about Strauss’ conduct as early as 1979 but failed to investigate or act.
“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,” university president Michael Drake wrote in a message to students, faculty and staff.
In 1996, Ohio State removed Strauss from his role as a physician in both the Department of Athletics and Student Health Services. His actions were reported to the State Medical Board of Ohio that same year. The report found that the university failed to report Strauss’ conduct to law enforcement. He was allowed to voluntarily retire in 1998 with emeritus status.
Strauss committed suicide in 2005.
Important dates in Dr. Richard Strauss case:
Sept. 1978 – Strauss begins employment as professor, volunteers as athletic physician
1980 – Appointed Associate Dir., Sports Medicine Program
1982 – Letter raising concerns about medical care at the Sports Medicine Clinic altered by Director of Student Health and sent to Pres. Ed Jennings. Allegations refuted
Nov. 1994 – Fencing coach Charlotte Remenyik, raised “concerns” about reports of sexual misconduct but head team physician Dr. John Lombardo found “no foundation” for the allegations.
June-July 1995 – Strauss receives “exceptional” or “excellent” job performance ratings.
Jan. 1995-Jan. 1996 – Complaints by 3 students about Strauss’ activities at Student Health are brought to the attention of university administrators by the Director of Student Health
1996 – Strauss suspended and placed on administrative leave during investigation by Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs
July 1996 – Ohio Medical Board reaches “ambiguous conclusion” on accusations against Strauss. His license to practice medicine was never revoked
August 1996 – Strauss’ appointment with Student Health terminated but he remained on faculty as tenured professor
March 1998 – After appealing his disciplinary action, Strauss retires from The Ohio State University and relocates to California
2005 – Straus commits suicide
Source: Perkins Coie, LLP
The investigation, which has already cost the university an estimated $6.2 million, involved allegations by 153 athletes from at least 16 sports, plus accusations from 17 non-athletes stemming from Strauss’ work at the student health center and his off-campus clinic. The allegations were first made public in April 2018.
One of his accusers reported to investigators that Strauss had first abused him when he was a 14-year-old during what Strauss claimed was a “body fat study” at a Columbus high school, the report stated.
Many of the accusers who have spoken publicly said they were groped and inappropriately touched during physical exams. Some also said they were ogled in locker rooms where athletes joked about Strauss’ behavior, referring to him with nicknames like “Dr. Jelly Paws.”
A federal judge this week denied the university permission to include information about an Ohio Medical Board investigation into Strauss. The board never disciplined him.
District Court Judge Michael Watson ruled Thursday that Ohio State’s goal for transparency is praiseworthy. But he says he can only rule on using the old investigation in a judicial proceeding, not a publicly released report.
The medical board argues such disclosure would undermine witnesses’ trust and its future investigations. Records of board communications indicate Ohio State reported Strauss to the medical board at some point but include no details.
Watson is overseeing lawsuits against the university by three groups of plaintiffs stemming from the abuse.
The university has established several new policies and procedures aimed at preventing sexual abuse since the allegations surfaced and is paying for counseling services for victims.