COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The first former Ohio State athlete to publicly speak out against Dr. Richard Strauss says seeing more football players come forward is both emotional and long overdue.
Michael DiSabato, the whistleblower who helped expose Strauss’ abuse at Ohio State, spoke with ABC 6 after 30 former Buckeye football players joined the growing class action lawsuit against the university this week.
More than a dozen of those players went on to play in the NFL, including former team captains Al Washington, Ray Ellis, and Keith Ferguson.
For DiSabato, the latest wave of these former athletes stepping forward is validation after years of pushing for accountability.
“The trauma of the last eight years for many of us is actually worse than the trauma we experienced at the hands of this doctor,” DiSabato said.
Strauss served as a university physician from 1978 to 1998. An independent investigation commissioned by Ohio State found that at least 177 male students were sexually abused during that time.
DiSabato says some of Ohio State’s most recognizable former football players are adding powerful momentum to the case.
'A lot of trauma,' Ohio State whistleblower talks on football alum joining Strauss lawsuit
“I don’t know many cases where elite NFL players have spoken publicly about being sexually abused by their team doctor,” DiSabato said. “These three men are the first to put their names behind this case.”
In a statement, former linebacker Al Washington said the players...
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