Content warning: This article contains alleged depictions of sexual misconduct
At least 15 former Indiana University men’s basketball players allege sexual misconduct by former team physician Dr. Bradford Bomba, according to ESPN.
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Two former Indiana players — Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller — originally filed a lawsuit against the university last October. Since then, at least three other ex-athletes have joined the lawsuit, and 10 additional men are planning to “pursue litigation,” their attorney told ESPN.
Bomba, who served as the team’s physician for roughly 30 years, is accused of regularly giving players rectal exams during physicals. Rectal exams were not considered standard protocol for healthy, college-aged men at the time the exams were allegedly being performed, per ESPN.
The former players believe those exams constitute sexual misconduct. They also allege university officials — including legendary coach Bob Knight — were aware of the exams and did nothing to stop them. Players claim they complained about the exams to Knight and former head athletic trainer Tim Garl, who continued to refer players to Bomba. Knight died in 2023. Garl served as the team’s head athletic trainer for 45 years. Indiana declined to renew his contract in April.
After the initial lawsuit was filed, Bomba was found competent to be questioned about the allegations. He took part in that deposition in December, invoking his Fifth Amendment right multiple times. Bomba, 89, died in May.
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When the allegations dropped, Indiana commissioned an outside investigation into the situation. It determined that while Bomba did perform those exams, he did so in a “clinically appropriate manner.” The investigation added there was “no evidence to suggest that Dr. Bomba achieved sexual gratification,” per ESPN.
At least two men reportedly considering filing suit contradicted those findings, with one claiming Bomba “fondled his genitalia” during a physical. Another man said Bomba performed a rectal exam on the man when he was a minor in high school.
Indiana argued in court filings that the allegations by the ex-players fall outside the state’s two-year statute of limitations regarding sexual-assault claims, per ESPN.
In May, a magistrate judge allowed the plaintiffs to continue gathering records regarding the lawsuit. It’s possible a presiding district court judge could dismiss the claims, however.
