Ohio State Bans Massage Therapist Who Was Allegedly Sexually Targeting Football Players

A massage therapist was told she was banned from Ohio State University after multiple complaints from football players claimed she was targeting them for sex.

An independent investigation from a Columbus law firm showed that the 41-year-old masseuse would reach out to players (usually over social media) and offer free massages. She would then attempt to engage in sexual behavior with the football players, and demand payment after the fact.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith teamed up with the school’s director of public safety Monica Moll to issue the massage therapists with letters that barred her from contacting any members of the athletics program through any means, purchasing tickets, using complimentary tickets and donating to the university. Additionally, the masseuse will be arrested for trespassing if she is ever found on campus.

A massage therapist who worked with the Ohio State football program is banned from the university's property after an investigation found she 'engaged in exploitative & inappropriate behavior toward student-athletes.'

Below is the official letter from the school. @WOWK13News pic.twitter.com/2sGWmthvzL

— Cassidy Wood (@CassidyWoodTV) May 13, 2021

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Per the investigative report:

“The massage therapist’s conduct targeted OSU football student athletes who were young (ranging from 18 to early 20s), but the evidence uncovered during the investigation did not reveal that her interactions with the football student athletes rose to the level of any crimes. According to the current and former football student athletes interviewed, the sexual activities that occurred were consensual. Further, in the instances where she attempted to initiate sexual activity during a massage (e.g., where she made brief contact with their genitals while giving them massages), those football student athletes characterized the touching as incidental and stated that while it was unwanted, she stopped the inappropriate touching when the football student athletes objected.
The massage therapist had no connection to OSU, its Athletic Department, or to anyone connected to the University. The investigation found no evidence that the massage therapist is or was acting on behalf of an agent or any particular person or entity in professional or collegiate sports, much less on behalf of OSU athletics. Rather, the facts indicate that she seemed to be acting for her own sexual gratification and that she acted alone. Accordingly, there is no foundation for a finding that “extra benefits” were provided to football student athletes or that the rules addressing preferential treatment, benefits, or services apply under the NCAA bylaws.”

Gene Smith would go on to praise the football players who cooperated with the investigation.

“I’m thankful that our student-athletes, our coaches and staff were honest, forthright and open during the investigation, and I’m really thankful that they maintained confidentiality, affording the investigation the opportunity to operate without distraction and be able to operate with integrity,” Smith said Thursday.

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