NCAA Hands Down Verdict to Michigan State in Nassar Sexual Assault Scandal
The NCAA has cleared Michigan State University of any rules violations in the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal, the school announced Thursday.
Athletic director Bill Beekman said the university “cooperated fully with the inquiry” and welcomes the NCAA’s conclusion.
The school said it got a letter this week from the NCAA’s vice president for enforcement, Jonathan Duncan.
“It does not appear there is a need for further inquiry,” Duncan’s letter said, according to Michigan State.
Here is the letter from the NCAA to Michigan State yesterday: pic.twitter.com/RpF3J7qQE6
— David Harns (@DavidHarns) August 30, 2018
Nassar, 55, pleaded guilty to assaulting girls and women while working as a campus sports doctor for Michigan State athletes and gymnasts in the region.
Victims included U.S. Olympians who trained at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics.
Nassar has been sentenced to decades in prison in three separate cases involving assault and child pornography.
“While we agree with the NCAA that we did not commit a violation, that does not diminish our commitment to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student athletes,” Beekman said in a statement. “That pledge permeates everything we do as part of a larger university commitment to making MSU a safer campus.”
Michigan State has denied that anyone covered up Nassar’s crimes. But former athletes say various campus staff downplayed or disregarded their complaints about him.
"If the world's worst pedophile in history working at MSU and getting away with abuse for 20 years isn't considered a violation, then what is the point?" – Lindsey Lemke, former captain of the Michigan State gymnastics team, in response to NCAA/MSU's violations ruling.
— Charlotte Gibson (@TheCharlotteSue) August 30, 2018
The university in May reached a $500 million settlement with hundreds of women and girls who said they were assaulted by Nassar.
Former gymnastics coach Kathie Klages, a longtime Nassar ally, appeared in court Thursday on charges of lying to investigators.
Klages is accused of denying that gymnasts had ever complained of assaults by Nassar. Authorities say two teens complained to her back in 1997.
Defense attorney Mary Chartier said Klages will fight the charges.
Separately, the university said the NCAA found no violations in how the football and basketball teams responded to assault allegations against players.
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