{
  "id": 19697867,
  "title": "Documents show that NC State officials had qualms about ex-sports medicine director years before Title IX investigation into sexual abuse allegations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/documents-show-that-nc-state-officials-had-qualms-about-ex-sports",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T19:57:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/college-sports/article/documents-show-that-nc-state-officials-had-qualms-about-ex-sports-medicine-director-years-before-title-ix-investigation-into-sexual-abuse-allegations-195706245.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Multiple individuals within the NC State athletic department expressed concerns about the behavior of former sports medicine director Robert Murphy years before his arrest in 2022, according to a recent ESPN investigation. Murphy, who served in this role from 2012 to 2022, was subsequently charged with 23 counts of sexual battery and nine counts of felony sexual contact in connection with alleged sexual abuse of male athletes he treated at the school. Prior to Murphy's arrest, a memo written by his manager, senior associate athletic director Raymond Harrison, in 2019, detailed specific instances of questionable conduct by Murphy.\n\nHarrison highlighted that Murphy was observed using questionable massage techniques, inviting male athletes to have their hair cut in his home, and had an instance where he allegedly virtually straddled a student athlete. Harrison also mentioned a comment made by Murphy about seeing an athlete naked in the team's locker room, which he downplayed to investigators. Furthermore, Harrison stated that Murphy had commented on seeing an athlete naked in the locker room and that this was not appropriate.\n\nDebbie Yow, the former athletic director at NC State, admitted that she could not remember reading the memo but recalled being told about Murphy's questionable behavior. The Title IX investigation was initiated following accusations from former men's soccer player Ben Locke, who claimed that Murphy inappropriately touched his genitals under the guise of medical treatment. Other athletes from seven different sports have also come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching by Murphy. Over 30 men are part of a civil suit against Murphy, which was later dismissed on procedural grounds, and the criminal charges relate to incidents with 14 alleged victims.\n\nAdditionally, former men's soccer coach Kelly Findley had raised concerns about Murphy in 2016, stating that Murphy was excessively friendly with certain players and never had his own life. Findley believed that Murphy was grooming specific athletes. Murphy's attorneys recently filed to have seven misdemeanor charges dismissed due to the statute of limitations having expired. Murphy was arrested in Florida, extradited to North Carolina, and his bond was set at $2 million.",
  "summary": "Robert Murphy was arrested in September on over 30 charges, including nine counts of felony sexual contact.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SB Nation",
        "title": "Michigan State looks like a national title contender, and Jeremy Fears is the reason why",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/michigan-state-looks-like-a-national-title-contender-and-jeremy-fears",
        "published": "2026-11-12T17:50:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}