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IU opens investigation into allegations against former athletic physician

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BLOOMINGTON — A former IU men’s basketball player is accusing the team’s former physician of inappropriately conducting prostate and rectal exams while he was on the team several decades ago.

In a statement released Wednesday, IU said the former player came forward with the allegations against Dr. Brad Bomba Sr, who was an IU athletics doctor for nearly three decades. His work with the team ended in the late 1990s.  

The former player also alleges the rectal exam was a common practice for all basketball student-athletes assigned to Dr. Bomba, Sr. for physical examinations.

The university has assigned Jones Day, an international law firm, to review the allegations. The firm worked alongside Michigan State University leading up to the dismissal of football coach Mel Tucker who was accused of sexual harassment. 

According to the statement the review will include “witness interviews, a review of available documentation” and also if the “conduct was appropriate, necessary, or within the standard of care.”

Anyone who wants to provide information about the investigation can call Jones Day at 888-392-2296 or email the law firm at IUinvestigation@JonesDay.com. You can do so anonymously.

“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 statement concluded.

Bomba Sr was a former Hoosier athlete himself, inducted into the IU Bloomington Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. According to his IU bio page, Bomba is the only player in IU history to garner both All-America and Academic All-America status in his career. 

He was an All-Big Ten selection in 1955 as a junior and won the prestigious Hoosier Award following his senior campaign. He also participated in the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game after finishing his time as a Hoosier.

According to the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame, Bomba Sr. was a Bloomington High School South team physician and a former Chairman of Sports Medicine for the Indiana State Medical Association.