A former University doctor from the University of Michigan has been accused by several past student-athletes.
Dr. Robert E. Anderson, who worked at U of M from 1968 to 2003, allegedly molested students during unnecessary medical examinations. During his time with the school, Anderson allegedly abused hundreds of students. He died in 2008.
READ MORE: Red Sox dogged by claims of racism, sexual abuse
Dwight Hicks, a two-time Super Bowl champion, came forward this week to allege that he was also sexually abused by the physician.
“What happened to me in that room with Dr. Anderson, I have no words for,” former San Francisco 49er safety, Hicks, told CNN. “I felt that I had to suck it up. I’m going to be a Michigan man. Maybe this is part of it.”
The university said it first became aware of the allegations in July 2018. A former student-athlete wrote to Athletic Director Warde Manuel to detail abuse during medical exams by Anderson in the early 1970s.
U of M then sent out a press release asking for any other victims to come forward and set up a toll-free number. They have not disclosed how many victims have contacted the university.
Because Anderson has died and so much time has passed since the incidents, no charges can be filed.
The doctor’s children have said that the accusations against their father are “ridiculous.”
READ MORE: Washington NFL team accused of sexual harassment and toxic workplace culture
However, another man, Chuck Christian who also played football for U of M said that the doctor performed an unnecessary prostate exam on him. He said that the experience was so traumatizing that he feared the exams for most of his life.
He now has stage 4 prostate cancer that has spread to his spine, tailbone, hips, ribs, and shoulders. He now says that he wishes he would have spoken up sooner. “I want to help all the student-athletes that have been through what I went through,” Christian told CNN. “Do not let any doctor or trainer do to you what they did to us, because it’s wrong and it’s illegal.”
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!