Former NC State Athletes Allege Sexual Abuse by Trainer Robert Murphy
NC State men recount trainer's alleged sexual abuse
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Eleven former male athletes from North Carolina State University have come forward alleging sexual abuse and harassment by former trainer Robert Murphy. The accusations include inappropriate touching and non-standard treatment practices, leading to a Title IX investigation and ongoing civil and criminal cases against Murphy.
- 01Eleven former athletes allege sexual abuse by Robert Murphy, NC State's former trainer.
- 02The allegations include inappropriate touching and non-standard medical treatment.
- 03A Title IX investigation concluded that Murphy engaged in improper sexual behavior.
- 04The athletes expressed frustration over NC State's failure to act on previous warnings.
- 05The case highlights the stigma men face in reporting sexual abuse.
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Eleven former male athletes from North Carolina State University (NC State) have alleged sexual abuse and harassment by Robert Murphy, a former athletic trainer. The athletes, who played for various teams between 2013 and 2024, reported that Murphy's misconduct included inappropriate touching and coercive treatment practices that violated standard medical protocols. Their allegations came to light following a complaint by former soccer player Ben Locke, which initiated a Title IX investigation in 2022. This investigation concluded that Murphy had engaged in sexual misconduct towards Locke, with findings indicating that NC State officials were aware of complaints against him as early as 2014 but failed to take decisive action. The athletes expressed anger over the university's inaction, likening their experiences to those of victims in other high-profile abuse cases. The ongoing civil lawsuit has drawn attention to the complexities surrounding male victims of sexual abuse, as many athletes felt pressured to remain silent due to societal expectations regarding masculinity. The case is currently under further legal scrutiny, with a criminal investigation also underway against Murphy, who left NC State in 2022.
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The allegations have raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of student-athletes at NC State and the broader issue of male victims of sexual abuse.
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