Former Indiana basketball players say team doctor sexually abused them with unnecessary prostate exams

Three former members of the Indiana men’s basketball team have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against former team doctor Bradford Bomba Sr., 88. Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller initially filed a lawsuit against Bomba in October, with John Flowers joining the suit more recently. Flowers, who played for the Hoosiers in 1981 and 1982, stated that he was subjected to at least two unnecessary prostate exams during his time on the team.

The lawsuit also names longtime trainer Tim Garl as a defendant, alleging that Garl was aware of Bomba’s inappropriate behavior. Flowers claimed that Garl made jokes at the expense of players who had undergone digital rectal examinations and did nothing to stop Bomba’s actions. The university has not provided a comment on the matter but has stated that an independent review is being conducted.

According to the players’ attorney, Kathleen Delaney, Bomba may have sexually abused around 100 male athletes during his time at the school. Bomba himself declined to comment during a recent deposition. Mujezinovic and Miller, who played under coach Bobby Knight in the 1990s, also accused Bomba of conducting unnecessary prostate exams.

The lawsuit alleges that Bomba’s behavior was openly discussed among players and staff at the university, with assistant coaches and trainers aware of the situation. Mujezinovic expressed his hope that more former teammates will come forward with their stories, while Miller questioned why the university did not take action to protect its athletes. Flowers stated that he is seeking justice on behalf of himself and his former teammates who endured abuse.

Bomba was employed by the university from 1962 to 1970 and again from 1979 until the late ’90s. The case remains ongoing as the former players seek accountability for the alleged abuse they suffered. The university has yet to provide further details on the independent review mentioned in their statement.

The players’ bravery in coming forward sheds light on the importance of addressing misconduct in sports and ensuring the safety and well-being of student-athletes. It serves as a reminder of the need for institutions to take allegations of abuse seriously and implement measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.