17 former NC State athletes join lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by former head trainer

Seventeen additional former North Carolina State University athletes have joined a state court lawsuit alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation by the university’s former director of sports medicine, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 31, AP sports writer, Aaron Beard reported yesterday.

The case, now pending in Wake County Superior Court, traces back to a federal lawsuit filed more than three years ago by a single former athlete and has steadily expanded as more individuals have come forward.

The lawsuit centers on allegations against Robert L. Murphy Jr., who worked at North Carolina State University from 2012 to 2022. Former athletes accuse Murphy of engaging in sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment, including improper touching of genitals during massage and rehabilitation sessions, as well as invasive and humiliating practices during drug testing.

According to the complaint, Murphy frequently observed athletes at close range while they provided urine samples, sometimes instructing them to lift their shirts above their chests and lower their pants to their ankles while he watched their genitals from just a few feet away or from inside the same bathroom stall. Several athletes described feeling uncomfortable, vulnerable, or humiliated, while one alleged he was unable to urinate despite repeated attempts and was required to return another day to repeat the same invasive process.

Roughly half a dozen of the newly added plaintiffs also allege that Murphy improperly touched their genitals during massage or other injury related treatments. One former athlete with an Achilles tendon injury alleged that what began as legitimate treatment gradually shifted upward until Murphy reached his groin area. The athlete said he told Murphy to stop and refused further treatment from him, according to the filing.

All but two of the plaintiffs are identified as John Doe to protect their privacy. One of the named plaintiffs is Benjamin Locke, who filed the original complaint in August 2022 and has spoken publicly about his experience. Another named plaintiff previously filed a separate federal lawsuit before the cases were consolidated at the state level.

The lawsuits name Murphy and eight other defendants, including school officials accused of failing to properly oversee the athletics program and intervene despite allegations reaching senior levels of the department. The complaint describes the former athletes as victims of sexual assaults, sexual exploitation, and sexual harassment, alleging that Murphy violated a position of trust meant to provide care and rehabilitation.

In a statement released by counsel, Locke said that while it is painful to learn how many others suffered in silence, he is encouraged by the courage of those now coming forward. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs have indicated they expect additional athletes to join the lawsuit. Murphy has denied all allegations through prior statements from his attorney, who has characterized the claims as false and unsupported.