Investigation Reveals Sexual Misconduct by NC State Trainer Robert Murphy
Docs: NCSU trainer's contact 'unwelcome,' 'sexual'
Espn
Image: Espn
An investigation into Robert Murphy, a former sports medicine director at North Carolina State University, found his conduct towards male athletes to be 'unwelcome and of a sexual nature.' The inquiry, initiated after a complaint in January 2022, revealed a pattern of inappropriate behavior dating back to at least 2014, prompting a civil lawsuit from former athletes.
- 01Robert Murphy's conduct was deemed 'unwelcome and of a sexual nature' by investigators.
- 02Concerns about Murphy's behavior were raised as early as 2014, with reports made in 2016.
- 03The investigation began after a complaint from former athlete Ben Locke in January 2022.
- 04Locke reported that Murphy touched him inappropriately during medical treatments over two years.
- 05A total of 33 former athletes have joined a civil lawsuit against Murphy and NC State officials.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
An investigation into Robert Murphy, the former sports medicine director at North Carolina State University (NC State), revealed that his conduct towards male athletes was 'unwelcome and of a sexual nature.' The inquiry, which began in January 2022 after a complaint from former men's soccer player Ben Locke, found that Murphy's behavior was pervasive and sufficiently severe to constitute sexual misconduct. Reports of inappropriate behavior were noted as early as 2014, with former men's soccer coach Kelly Findley expressing concerns in 2016. Locke, who first received treatment from Murphy at the age of 17, detailed instances of unwanted sexual contact during therapeutic sessions, including inappropriate touching during medical treatments. Investigators determined that Murphy's actions created an intimidating environment for Locke and likely affected his ability to report the misconduct due to a power imbalance. Following the investigation, Murphy was placed on administrative leave and resigned in June 2022. A civil lawsuit has been filed by Locke and 30 other former athletes, alleging that NC State ignored multiple warnings about Murphy's behavior since 2012. The university's response emphasizes the importance of student safety, while Murphy's lawyer claims the allegations fall outside the statute of limitations. The ongoing criminal investigation into Murphy is also noted, following North Carolina's 2018 law making sexual contact under the guise of medical care a felony offense.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The investigation and subsequent lawsuit could lead to significant changes in how NC State and potentially other universities handle allegations of sexual misconduct in athletic departments.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you believe universities are doing enough to prevent sexual misconduct in athletics?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.




