Ex-wrestlers: Ohio congressman knew of abuse claims against doc

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio congressman isn’t being truthful when asserting he was unaware of allegations that a now-dead team doctor was abusing athletes, according to two former university wrestlers.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a former standout college wrestler at the University of Wisconsin and later a coach at Ohio State, knew when he was at the university that the doctor was groping male wrestlers, said ex-wrestlers Mike DiSabato and Dunyasha Yetts.

The wrestlers’ allegations were first reported yesterday by NBC. Jordan, a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, denies them.

Jordan, a founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, is one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress and a potential contender for speaker. He’s taken leading roles in fighting the Affordable Care Act and in pushing back against the government’s Russia investigation, most recently interrogating Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in committee.

Male athletes from 14 sports at Ohio State have reported alleged sexual misconduct by Richard Strauss, who was on the faculty and medical staff and published a variety of research. Strauss died in 2005 in what was ruled a suicide.

Ohio State has not released details about the claims, but said more than 150 former students and witnesses have been interviewed so far. The school has urged anyone with information about Strauss to contact the independent investigators from Seattlebased law firm Perkins Coie.

Yetts, 47, of Steubenville, Ohio, said Strauss groped him at least three times during routine exams when he wrestled in the early to mid-1990s. Jordan was Yetts’ weight-class coach at the time, and the two spoke frequently about Strauss, he said.

“He’d even make comments, ‘This guy better not touch me,’” Yetts said.

Jordan’s spokesman said in a statement that the congressman never saw or heard about any abuse or had any abuse reported to him during his time at Ohio State.