REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

[Pages:232]REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

SEXUAL ABUSE COMMITTED BY DR. RICHARD STRAUSS AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

SUBMITTED BY:

CARYN TROMBINO

MARKUS FUNK

PERKINS COIE LLP

MAY 15, 2019

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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... 1 A. Strauss' Work as a Physician at The Ohio State University .................................. 2 B. Complaints and Reports about Strauss' Misconduct ............................................. 2 C. State Medical Board of Ohio's Investigations of Strauss and OSU ...................... 4 D. Strauss' Off-Campus Private Men's Clinic ........................................................... 5 E. Faculty Retirement and Emeritus........................................................................... 5 F. Report Overview .................................................................................................... 6

II. INVESTIGATIVE MANDATE ........................................................................................ 7 A. Structure and Scope of Independent Investigation ................................................ 7 1. Statement of Independence ........................................................................ 8 a. Investigative Process...................................................................... 8 b. Investigation Timeline ................................................................... 8 c. Report of Factual Findings............................................................. 9 2. Identification of University Personnel ....................................................... 9 3. Conditions of Witness Interviews ............................................................ 10 B. Trauma-Informed/Survivor-Centered Methodology ........................................... 11 1. Working Definition of Doctor-Patient Sex Abuse................................... 11 2. Consultations with External Physicians................................................... 12 3. Credibility of Survivor Accounts............................................................. 13 4. Survivor Outreach.................................................................................... 13 C. Mandatory Reporting Obligations Under Ohio Law ........................................... 15

III. INVESTIGATIVE WORKPLAN ................................................................................... 16 A. Witness Interviews............................................................................................... 16

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B. Document Collection and Review ....................................................................... 18 1. University Records................................................................................... 18 a. Archival........................................................................................ 19 b. Electronic ..................................................................................... 20 c. Departmental................................................................................ 20 2. Other Institutions ..................................................................................... 21 a. Academic Institutions and Military Service ................................ 21 b. Olympic Committee Service........................................................ 24 (i) USA Wrestling................................................................. 24 (ii) United States Olympic Committee .................................. 24 (iii) International Olympic Committee ................................... 25 c. Ohio High School Athletics Association and Columbus Area High Schools ....................................................................... 25 3. Miscellaneous Public Records ................................................................. 25 a. Litigation Records and/or Criminal History ................................ 25 b. State Filings ................................................................................. 26 (i) Medical Licensure Records.............................................. 26 (ii) Strauss' Private Medical Clinics ...................................... 27 (a) "Men's Clinics of America" in Columbus........... 27 (b) "Men's Medical Clinic of America, Inc." in Los Angeles ......................................................... 27 (iii) Medical Examiner's Report ............................................. 28 c. Strauss' Publications (Articles, Papers, Books)........................... 29 -ii-

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d. Media Coverage (Historical, Current) ......................................... 29 IV. STRAUSS' ROLES AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ........................................ 31

A. College of Medicine/School of Public Health ..................................................... 32 1. Changes in Faculty Appointment............................................................. 32 2. Teaching Duties ....................................................................................... 33

B. University Athletics Department ......................................................................... 34 C. Student Health Services ....................................................................................... 35 D. OSU Medical Center/University Hospitals.......................................................... 37 V. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS REGARDING STRAUSS' SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ............................................................................................ 38 A. Investigative Team's Objective Analytical Framework ...................................... 38 B. Spectrum of Sexual Abuse/Abusive Conduct...................................................... 39 C. Strauss' Abuse of Students Affiliated with OSU Athletics ................................. 43

1. Overview of Student Accounts of Abuse................................................. 43 2. Range of Abusive Conduct During Medical Exams................................ 43

a. Extreme Manipulation or Stimulation of Genitals....................... 44 (i) Unwanted Oral Sex .......................................................... 44 (ii) Fondling to Point of Erection/Near Erection ................... 45

b. Prolonged or Medically Unnecessary Genital and Rectal Exams........................................................................................... 48

c. Other Inappropriate and Abusive Practices ................................. 50 (i) Unnecessary Nudity ......................................................... 50 (ii) Other Excessive Touching and/or Groping...................... 51

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(iii) Verbal Commentary and Questions ................................. 52 (iv) Gloving Practices ............................................................. 53 (v) Physical Positioning/Invasion of Space ........................... 53 (vi) Treatment Outside Clinical Settings ................................ 53 (vii) "Quid Pro Quo" Arrangements........................................ 54 3. Range of Abusive Conduct Outside Medical Exam Context................... 55 a. Shower and Locker Room Conduct ............................................. 55 b. Photography Sessions .................................................................. 56 c. Other Fraternization (Meals, Parties)........................................... 57 D. Strauss' Abuse of Students in Student Health Services....................................... 58 1. Abuse of Student-Athletes at the Student Health Center......................... 58 2. Abuse of Other Students (Non-Athletes) ................................................. 59 E. Strauss' Abuse of Student Participants in Medical Studies ................................. 61 1. Strauss' Studies on the Physical Effects of Steroid Use .......................... 62 a. Publications on the Physical Effects of Steroid Use .................... 64 b. Evidence of Approvals or Other Documentation......................... 65 2. Strauss' Studies on the Effect of Heart Medication on Muscle Performance ............................................................................................. 65 a. Publications on the Effect of Heart Medication on Muscle Performance ................................................................................. 66 b. Evidence of Approvals or Other Documentation......................... 66 3. Strauss' Studies on the Muscle Development of Athletes ....................... 67 a. Publications on Muscle Development ......................................... 67

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b. Evidence of Approvals of Other Documentation......................... 67 4. Strauss' Studies on the Effects of Weight Loss ....................................... 68

a. Publications Relating to Weight Loss.......................................... 68 b. Evidence of Approvals or Other Documentation......................... 70 5. Summary of OSU Approval Process for Studies Involving Human Subjects .................................................................................................... 70 F. Strauss' Interactions with High School and Grade School Students ................... 71 1. Body Fat Testing of High School Students.............................................. 72 a. Student N's Firsthand Account of Abuse .................................... 72 b. Outreach to Diocese of Columbus ............................................... 72 c. Interviews with Witnesses from High School A.......................... 73 d. Other Evidence Relating to Study at High School A................... 74 e. Other Outreach Efforts Relating to Body Fat Testing ................. 75 2. Summer Sports Camps at OSU................................................................ 75 3. High School Wrestling Tournaments....................................................... 76 a. Historical Tournament Rules Governing Weigh-Ins ................... 77 b. Strauss' Publications Referencing High School

Tournaments ................................................................................ 78 (i) 1982 Paper Regarding Injuries in High School

Wrestlers .......................................................................... 78 (ii) 1983 Paper Using Data from High School

Tournament ...................................................................... 78 4. Private Wrestling Program (non-OSU).................................................... 79 5. Other Research Studies Involving Minors............................................... 79

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6. National Youth Sports Program............................................................... 81

G. Strauss' Private "Men's Clinics of America" (Columbus, OH) .......................... 82

1. Establishment of MCA ............................................................................ 82

2. Student Accounts of Abuse at MCA........................................................ 82

3. Employee Witness Descriptions of MCA Operations ............................. 84

4. MCA Advertisements at OSU and in the Greater Columbus Area ......... 85

5. Other Investigative Efforts Concerning MCA......................................... 86

6. MCA Dissolution ..................................................................................... 87

VI. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS REGARDING UNIVERSITY KNOWLEDGE OF STRAUSS' SEXUAL ABUSE OF STUDENTS ............................................................ 87

A. OSU Department of Athletics .............................................................................. 88

1. Athletics Department Administrators ...................................................... 88

a. Student N's Allegations regarding Jim Jones and Andy Geiger........................................................................................... 89

(i) Student N's Master's Thesis and Related Presentation...................................................................... 90

(ii) Alleged Reports to Jones, Geiger, and Griffin................. 91

b. 1994 Complaint from Fencing Coach.......................................... 92

(i) Lombardo's November 1994 Letter to Krebs .................. 93

(ii) Strauss' Letter Regarding Fencing Team Complaint....... 94

(iii) Contemporaneous Accounts to State Medical Board ...... 95

(a) Richard Strauss .................................................... 95

(b)

Redacted

............................................ 96

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(c)

Redacted

............................................. 96

(d)

Redacted

.................................................. 98

(e) Redacted ............................................................ 99

(f) Assistant Trainer A .............................................. 99

c. Other Reports to Athletics Department Administrators............. 100

(i) Dr. Bob Murphy (Head Team Physician) ...................... 100

(ii) Dr. John Lombardo (Head Team Physician) ................. 102

(iii) Bill Davis (Director of Athletic Training) ..................... 104

2. Other Team Physicians/Sports Medicine Fellows ................................. 106

3. Athletic Trainers .................................................................................... 107

a. Athletic Trainer A ...................................................................... 108

b. Witness Statements from Other Athletic Trainers ..................... 108

4. Coaching Staff ....................................................................................... 111

5. Student Athletic Trainers ....................................................................... 113

B. Student Health Services ..................................................................................... 114

1. Overview of Findings Regarding Student Health Complaints .............. 114

2. Complaints Reported to Student Health Directors................................. 115

a. Dr. Doris Charles and Dr. Forrest Smith ................................... 116

(i) 1982 Report Criticizing OSU's Sports Medicine Program.......................................................................... 116

(a) Henderson's Criticisms of Sports Medicine at OSU................................................................ 117

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