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Duke AD defends handling of allegations against Rasheed Sulaimon

Duke v Louisville

Getty Images

Getty Images

Duke athletic director Kevin White defended himself and his department against the suggestion that they mishandled allegations against a former basketball player.

On Monday, the Duke Chronicle, the university’s student paper, reported that Rasheed Sulaimon was twice accused of sexually assaulting a student. Neither of the alleged victims went to the Durham Police of Duke’s Office of Student Conduct, according to the report.

They did, however, implicate White, head coach Mike Krzyzewski, his coaching staff and a number of other staffers, saying they knew about the accusations as early as March of 2014. Sulaimon was dismissed from the program in late January of this year.

“Any allegation of student misconduct that is brought to the attention of our staff and coaches is immediately referred to the Office of Student Conduct in Student Affairs, which has responsibility for upholding the Duke code of conduct,” White said in a statement released by the university today. “The athletics department does not investigate or adjudicate matters of student conduct, and cooperates completely in the process.”

“These investigations are conducted thoroughly, in a timely manner, and with great care to respect the privacy and confidentiality of all students involved. Those procedures have been, and continue to be, followed by Coach Mike Krzyzewski and all members of the men’s basketball program. Coach Krzyzewski and his staff understand and have fulfilled their responsibilities to the university, its students and the community. As specified by federal law and university policy, all Duke officials, including Coach Krzyzewski, are prohibited from commenting publicly on any specific individual or situation.”

Krzyzewski refused to comment on the situation during the ACC teleconference on Monday.

Sulaimon is still a student at the university.