More than 100 have accused former doctor in Ohio State investigation

Ohio State officials say more than 100 former students have reported firsthand sexual misconduct at the hands of Dr. Richard Strauss more than two decades ago.

The university revealed the information in an update of an independent investigation into Strauss, who killed himself in 2005 after retiring in 1998.

Strauss is accused in two class-action lawsuits led by former wrestlers against the school of abusing student-athletes across 14 mens varsity sports from the late 1970s through 1997.

"We are grateful to those who have come forward and remain deeply concerned for anyone who may have been affected by Dr. Strauss' actions," school president Michael V. Drake said in a statement. "We remain steadfastly committed to uncovering the truth."

%InlineRelated-url="https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2018/07/18/the-cowboys-are-the-most-valuable-sports-team-in-the-world/23484878/" CTA="SEE ALSO" title="The Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world"%

Law firm Perkins Cole LLP has interviewed more than 200 former students and staff during an independent investigation commissioned by the school and plan to interview at least 100 more.

The investigation began in April. Ohio State released 228 pages of employment records for Strauss, but there were no mentions of sexual misconduct despite the former athletes contending they had reported him in several instances.

The school says Perkins Cole is also investigating an off-campus office Strauss opened in 1996, where some offenses were reported to have occurred, and whether local high school students might have been subject to abuse there.

In May, Michigan State agreed to pay $500 million in claims to more than 300 women who were abused by disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, who worked for the university and USA Gymnastics for more than two decades.

--Field Level Media