Indiana University ‘Turned a Blind Eye’ to Sexual Misconduct Reports Against Former Basketball Team Doctor, Class Action Says

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The Trustees of Indiana University (IU) face a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges the university systematically mishandled and “turned a blind eye” to athletes’ complaints of sexual misconduct by a former men’s basketball team doctor, Dr. Bradford Bomba, Sr.

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The 22-page lawsuit contends that IU maintained a policy of “deliberate indifference” to reports of “routine sexual assaults” by Dr. Bomba, Sr., who served as the men’s basketball team physician for nearly 30 years until the late 1990s. The case was filed by two former IU basketball players who claim that during their tenure in the program, they, like other teammates, were repeatedly subjected to inappropriate and “demeaning” prostate and rectal exams during annual physicals with the doctor.

According to the class action suit, officials at IU were well aware of Dr. Bomba, Sr.’s “invasive” examinations, which, per the complaint, were medically unnecessary for young, highly active college athletes like the plaintiffs. The filing shares that the alleged sexual misconduct was “common knowledge” among team members and staff and was “openly discussed” by players in the presence of coaches, trainers and other IU employees.

“Despite its knowledge of these routine sexual assaults, IU’s failure to take effective preventative measures allowed this sexually abusive behavior to persist, caused harm to students, and perpetuated a policy of deliberate indifference to and tacit acceptance of Dr. Bomba’s sexual misconduct,” the lawsuit against Indiana University charges.

The suit claims the university’s conduct constitutes a violation of Title IX, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs.

“Title IX was designed to protect students—like the plaintiffs—from being preyed on by known sexual assailants,” the complaint asserts. “Instead, [the plaintiffs] and their former teammates were forced to choose between enduring the sexual abuse Dr. Bomba, Sr. inflicted or abandoning their chance to play for a highly prestigious basketball program and complete their education at IU.”

The lawsuit looks to represent any former IU students who were sexually assaulted by Dr. Bradford Bomba, Sr., in the course of their participation in the university’s programs.

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