Authorities believe a team doctor for the OSU wrestling team sexually abused thousands of students.
[CW: The following article describes allegations of on-campus sexual assaults by a medical professional.]
According to The Hollywood Reporter George Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures is teaming up with Sports Illustrated Studios to produce a docuseries based on Jon Wertheim’s article covering the sex abuse scandal at Ohio State University.
Wetheim’s piece ‘Why Aren’t More People Talking About the Ohio State Sex Abuse Scandal?’ chronicled the crimes of Dr. Richard Strauss, a doctor who worked for a number of OSU’s sports teams, including the wrestling team. Strauss is accused of molesting over a thousand students, both on campus and at an off campus clinic, between 1978 and 1998. Strauss died of suicide in 2005.
The proposed docuseries is set to examine the allegations that OSU knew about accusations against Strauss and failed to act in a manner that protected students.
Former members of the OSU wrestling team have gone public in the past few years claiming they told their coaches about the abuse and that these coaches did nothing to get Strauss removed from the team or the university.
One of the coaches who is accused of knowing about Strauss’ abuse, and failing to act, is U.S. congressman Jim Jordan.
Mike DiSabato, Adam DiSabato, Dunyasha Yetts and former UFC heavyweight champion Marc Coleman are just a few of the former OSU wrestlers who have claimed that Jordan knew about accusations against Strauss.
Despite their claims Jordan has maintained that he had no knowledge that his team were being sexually abused by their doctor. In 2018 former President Donald Trump told reporters he didn’t believe any of the individuals who said Jordan knew about the abuse.
During Trump’s term as President few members of congress were as loyal as Jim Jordan. Jordan was one of only a handful of politicians to cast votes to halt the certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College win both immediately before and after the deadly US Capitol Riot on January 6.
On his way out of the White House Trump awarded Jordan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Survivors of sexual assault in the US can find support via the following organizations:
US – Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)’s National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). RAINN also has an online chat service.
Love is Respect, 1-866-331-9474. They can also be reached via online chat or by texting LOVEIS to 22522.
End Rape on Campus (EROC), 1-424-777-EROC (3762).
Canada – Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, 1-877-232-2610.
UK and Ireland – UK Says No More.
Rest of the World – International Rapes Crisis Hotlines.