A new wave of allegations has emerged in a North Carolina college sports sex abuse case, drawing national attention as more student athletes step forward. A recent filing accusing a former North Carolina State University sports medicine director of sexually abusing student athletes has grown significantly.
A complaint was filed in Wake County Superior Court in late January alleging years of sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment by Robert L. Murphy Jr., the former NC State director of sports medicine. Plaintiffs claim that Murphy abused his position of trust by engaging in improper touching during medical treatments and subjecting athletes to invasive and humiliating drug-testing procedures. Murphy has denied the allegations.
How the NC State College Athlete Sex Abuse Case Began
To grasp the full scope of the NC State sex abuse lawsuit, it's essential to revisit its beginnings. According to AP reports, the original complaint was filed in 2022 as a federal lawsuit by former men’s soccer player Benjamin Locke. Two additional former Wolfpack athletes filed separate federal lawsuits in early 2023, bringing claims under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. In addition to misconduct by Murphy, those cases also alleged failures by the university to adequately respond to warning signs of abuse.
Since the original federal filings, even more athletes have come forward with similar accounts of inappropriate behavior by Murphy. As a result, the federal case was dismissed so the additional sex abuse claims could be consolidated and filed in state court. By September 2025, 14 athletes were included in the lawsuit. In the most recent filing, 17 more athletes have joined, increasing the number of plaintiffs to 31.
What Are the Sex Abuse Allegations
Looking deeper into the allegations at NC State, the lawsuit describes a pattern of inappropriate conduct by Murphy during his time as director of sports medicine from 2012 to 2022. The plaintiffs allege Murphy abused his position of authority by engaging in inappropriate conduct while treating student athletes and conducting drug testing. They claim he inappropriately touched their genitals during massages and rehabilitation treatments.
Many of the new athlete allegations also focus on how Murphy subjected athletes to invasive and degrading drug-testing, during which athletes say they were instructed to lift their shirts above their chests and lower their shorts or pants to their ankles while Murphy closely observed their genitals. Several athletes described feeling “uncomfortable,” “vulnerable,” or “humiliated.” One former athlete said he was unable to urinate under the conditions and returned the following day to repeat what the lawsuit describes as the same invasive process.
In addition to Murphy, the lawsuit names multiple school officials as defendants. They are accused of failing to properly supervise Murphy or intervene to protect the athletes after concerns were raised, allowing the alleged misconduct to continue for years.
Durham-based attorney Kerry Sutton, who represents the plaintiffs, said the expanding number of accusers reflects how difficult it can be for male athletes to come forward.
Pattern of Sex Abuse in College Sports
The NC State case is part of a troubling pattern of sexual abuse incidents in college sports, reminiscent of past scandals that have prompted calls for reform. Previous high-profile college sex abuse cases, including those involving former sports physician Larry Nassar and Dr. Robert Anderson, a sports doctor who worked at the University of Michigan, have led to major settlements and prompted calls for stronger safeguards to protect student-athletes.
Nassar molested hundreds of female athletes at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics for years, despite authorities being notified of the abuse. In 2015, officials at USA Gymnastics gave the FBI information concerning allegations that Nassar sexually assaulted multiple gymnasts. However, the agents did not pursue a formal investigation and didn’t warn federal or state authorities in Michigan, allowing more athletes to be abused. This failure led to a $138.7 million agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and 139 women for their failure to act. In addition, a $500 million settlement with Michigan State University, and a $380 million settlement involving USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee were also reached.
In the Dr. Robert Anderson sex abuse case, the University of Michigan agreed to a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 former students who allege they were sexually assaulted by the longtime campus sports physician, who worked at the university for decades before retiring in 2003.
Legal experts have noted that many such cases, like the ones mentioned above, involve power imbalances, delayed reporting, and institutional reluctance to act until litigation forces disclosure. In several instances, civil sex abuse lawsuits have revealed patterns of misconduct that persisted for years before coming to light.
The NC State lawsuit’s expansion raises critical questions about institutional accountability, athlete safety, and the legal obligations of universities, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change. With the case in its early stages, there are likely to be further filings and potential additional plaintiffs.
