BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Two more former Indiana University basketball players have come forward saying an athletic doctor gave them inappropriate and unnecessary prostate and rectal exams during their annual physicals.
This now brings the total to at least three accusers.
Haris Mujezinovic played for IU from 1995-1997, and Charlie Miller played from 1994-1998. While they were both at IU, they allege they were sexually abused by Brad Bomba Sr. during their medical examinations.
Bomba served as the IU men’s basketball team physician for nearly 30 years and the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team physician under former IU head men's basketball coach Bob Knight. Bomba's work with the team ended in the late 1990s.
A class action complaint and demand for jury trial was filed by Mujezinovic and Miller against the Trustees of Indiana University. The complaint alleges that IU "systematically mishandled and turned a blind eye" to the sexual abuse complaints made by the basketball players at the time. The complaint also seeks "appropriate monetary relief," but doesn't specify how much.
According to the complaint, IU men’s basketball players were required to submit to annual physicals with doctors chosen and provided by IU. When Mujezinovic and Miller enrolled at IU and joined the basketball team, they were required to submit to a physical examination with Bomba, or the other doctor, for their exam.
Prostate exams are typically recommended, at the earliest, for men who are 40 years old or older, according to the American Cancer Society.
Court documents say Mujezinovic, who was 20 years old at the time, found out he has an appointment with Bomba when he saw his name on a board listing the dates and what doctor each player was scheduled to see.
Documents say when Mujezinovic’s teammates saw that he was assigned to Bomba, they warned Mujezinovic to prepare for “the finger.” Players also commented on the size of Bomba’s hands and fingers. Mujezinovic didn't understand his teammates’ warnings and still planned to go to his first appointment.
According to the complaint, Bomba was performing a routine physical exam until, without warning, he started to sexually abuse Mujezinovic during the medical exam. Based on blood tests from the first physical, court documents say Mujezinovic was told to return to Bomba for a "follow-up appointment," where he was sexually abused again.
"Over the proceeding weeks and months, Mujezinovic learned Dr. Bomba, Sr. performed the same unnecessary, invasive, harassing procedure on scores of Hoosier men’s basketball players assigned to him for physical examination," the complaint states.
Documents say Mujezinovic was called back the following year to see Bomba for his annual physical. While he waited for the doctor to arrive, he allegedly saw saw a bottle of KY lubricant on Bomba's counter.
According to the complaint, in an effort to "avoid the shame and discomfort of another abusive, medically unnecessary digital rectal examination," Mujezinovic hid the bottle of lubrication on a high shelf inside a closed cabinet. When Bomba arrived, court documents say he noticed the bottle of lubricant was missing and said to Mujezinovic, “if you’d like, we can do it without the (lubrication).” When Mujezinovic declined, Bomba allegedly told him they could “skip” the rectal examination for that year.
Court documents show Miller had his first appointment with Bomba when he was just 17 years old. The complaint says he was assigned to see Bomba four times over the course of his four years at IU. In each instance, the complaint says Bomba subjected Miller to the same rectal examinations.
According to the complaint, Bomba's "routine sexual assaults" were "openly discussed" by the IU men’s basketball players in the locker room in front of IU employees, including assistant coaches, athletic trainers and other Hoosier men’s basketball staff. So much so, that the team and staff allegedly referred to Bomba as "Frankenstein” due to the large size of his hands and fingers.
IU launched an investigation into the allegations and asked other student-athletes who may have been abused to come forward.
After the first student alleging abuse from Bomba came forward, the school hired international law firm Jones Day to conduct an independent review. That review is now underway, and is described as the following:
"The review will include witness interviews, a review of available documentation and engagement with medical experts to determine: 1) the background facts related to the annual physicals of IU student athletes conducted by Dr. Bomba, Sr.; 2) if the conduct was appropriate, necessary, or within the standard of care; and 3) what medical professionals and athletic department or university officials were aware of the conduct and, if warranted, what action did they take."
The second accuser came forward on Tuesday, Oct. 15. He was also a basketball player in the 1990s.
"We ask for the IU community to have patience as we search for the truth and to have confidence that the university’s actions will be consistent with our values," the university's statement concluded.
Attorney Kathleen DeLaney, with Indianapolis-based Delaney and Delaney, said they have not found a suitable reason for the exams.
"We do not believe it was appropriate medically for routine exams to be performed on young, healthy, elite athletes," DeLaney said. "I'm very proud of my clients for standing up and speaking out because this is an issue that has affected a lot of people and it takes a lot of courage to put your name out there and shine a light on the wrongdoing that you experienced."
DeLaney said a case like this has its own challenges.
"The doctor involved is very old, so we want to try and get his testimony as soon as possible. We don't yet know whether medical treatment records still exist for these patient visits where these things occurred," DeLaney said.
DeLaney said they hope IU will take appropriate action and remedy the situation.
"This case is very similar to cases that have been brought in the past against the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. In both of those situations, the universities stood up and got their arms around how big the problems was and compensated the victims. We are hoping Indiana University will follow the lead that was set by those other Big Ten schools in this case," DeLaney said.
Asked about a potential timeline for this case, DeLaney said it could take years.
13News reached out to IU Wednesday afternoon for comment. A spokesperson referred us to a statement they released in September after the first former player came forward.
(Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect there are at least three accusers, not at least four as previously reported.)