Massage therapist loses license after targeting Ohio State football players for sexual encounters

A woman has lost her massage license in the state of Ohio after a scheme targeting Ohio State football players for sexual encounters.

Ohio State revealed the findings of an independent investigation into the woman's interactions with football players on Thursday. The investigation found that five Ohio State football players had consensual sexual encounters with the woman after she had offered massage therapy services and that over 20 players had received messages from the woman through social media.

The woman, whose identity was redacted in the documents released by the school, was ordered to permanently surrender her license on March 30.

"Our first concern and top priority is for the safety and well-being of our student-athletes," Ohio State said in a statement. "Within days of learning of these allegations, the university quickly launched an independent investigation of the matter. An experienced legal and compliance resource, Barnes & Thornburg, led the independent investigation, and has completed its work. Barnes & Thornburg found that no university or athletic department staff had knowledge of the massage therapist’s activities. Her actions were part of a scheme to exploit football student-athletes and were in violation of her state license. In addition, Ohio State does not believe the massage therapist’s actions trigger NCAA rules or form the basis for NCAA violations. While no self-reporting is required, Ohio State proactively shared the exploitative behavior with the NCAA, and a report has been made to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office."