Former NC State athletes detail sexual abuse allegations against trainer
More than 30 former North Carolina State athletes have detailed allegations of sexual abuse by former sports medicine trainer Robert Murphy under the guise of medical treatment.
Eleven men who represented various university teams between 2013 and 2024 have spoken out about their harrowing experiences.
Most of the accusers have chosen to remain anonymous as part of an ongoing civil case against the academic institution.
The alleged misconduct involved inappropriate touching and highly irregular, near-nude drug testing procedures.
Inappropriate medical consultations
One former student detailed a consultation for back pain that resulted in egregious and unwelcome physical contact.
The athlete, identified only as John Doe 1 in the lawsuit, described freezing in shock during the distressing encounter.
I don’t even know how I got out of it. I think I just kind of made a sound or something and I just grabbed my stuff.
The distressed victim recalled returning home to shower instead of using the training facility, questioning whether the incident had actually occurred.
Breaking the institutional silence
Many affected individuals avoided discussing the trauma until a formal complaint was lodged by former soccer player Ben Locke.
His report to campus police triggered a Title IX investigation in 2022 and paved the way for a broader civil lawsuit.
Thirty additional former collegiate competitors have since joined the legal action against the university.
A separate state criminal investigation into the former medical staffer is also currently active.
Missed warnings and cultural barriers
University officials were reportedly aware of concerns surrounding the medical professional as early as 2014 but failed to act decisively.
A university spokesperson issued a statement maintaining that the health and safety of their student-athletes remains paramount.
The North Carolina institution declined to comment further on the specifics of the pending legal matter.
Locke explained that profound cultural barriers often prevent men from speaking out about sexual violence.
Then you add in, ‘You’re a Division 1 college athlete, you’re strong, you’re fit, you’re all the things.’
The former sportsman noted a societal expectation that physically strong men should be able to defend themselves against such abuse.
