Court document alleges that Pete Rose committed statutory rape

Newly released court documents allege that former MLB star Pete Rose committed statutory rape while playing for the Reds in the 1970s.

In 1973, Rose allegedly had an ongoing sexual relationship with an unidentified girl who claims to have been 14 or 15 years old.

USA Today reports the accusations are coming to light now after Rose filed a defamation lawsuit last year against John Dowd, the man responsible for Rose's 1989 lifetime ban from baseball following his investigation of Rose's illegal betting habits.

Click through images of Pete Rose through the years:

According to reports, Rose has acknowledge the relationship with the girl but says it didn't start until 1975 and that he didn't know she was under 16 .

Rose was named the World Series MVP in 1975. Rose's lawyer called the filings a media distraction by Dowd. .