Ex-Kentucky swimmers allege a ‘sexually hostile environment’

Two former Kentucky swim team members have sued the school, former coach Lars Jorgensen and athletic director Mitch Barnhart, alleging sexual assaults including rape by the former coach and claiming the school “purposefully” disregarded multiple credible reports of inappropriate sexual relationships.

The lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court by former swimmer and assistant coach Briggs Alexander and a woman identified only as Jane Doe said Kentucky empowered Jorgensen to “foster a toxic, sexually hostile environment within the swim program and to prey on, sexually harass, and commit horrific sexual assaults.”

Alexander, who according to the lawsuit now identifies as male, claims that Jorgensen “spent years” grooming him and creating a sexually hostile environment, including sexually assaulting and raping him. The suit also alleges that Jorgensen groomed Jane Doe over several years after her arrival as a Kentucky freshman, made sexualized comments and asserted control over her.

The ex-coach also “repeatedly and violently” assaulted an assistant coach, identified as Jane Doe II, starting with a December 2013 Christmas party with staff at his home.

The lawsuit also alleges that former Kentucky head coach Gary Conelly, who led the program from 1991 until retiring in 2013, did not follow up on being told of previous alleged misconduct by Jorgensen at Toledo. It also alleged that Barnhart did not follow up an email about allegations or investigate them and hired Jorgensen and accused him of intentionally concealing the allegations.

Jorgensen did not respond to messages left by the AP on Saturday but told The Athletic none of the allegations are true. Conelly also did not respond to a message left by the AP but told The Athletic that he contacted the former Toledo swimmer and was told she began dating Jorgensen after her career.

U.S., Canada reach women’s hockey final

Laila Edwards had a hat trick and the U.S. advanced to the women’s world hockey final with a 5-2 win on Saturday over Finland at Utica, N.Y.

The Americans will play Canada, which blanked the Czech Republic 4-0. The nations meet for gold for the 22nd time in 23 tournaments since n 1990.

College football: Arizona State has hired former Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward as wide receivers coach. Ward replaces Ra’Shaad Samples, who left to become associate head coach and wide receivers coach at Oregon.

NHL: The Arizona Coyotes will likely be sold to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith shortly after the team’s final game and will include a provision guaranteeing current owner Alex Meruelo an expansion team if a new arena is built within five years, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press.

The $1 billion deal will transfer the franchise’s hockey operations to Smith, who plans to move the team to Salt Lake City.