Five women Katina Powell alleged were paid to dance for and have sex with Louisville basketball recruits are suing for defamation.

Powell claimed in her recently published book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules," that a former University of Louisville (UL) basketball staffer paid her and other women to strip for recruits during visits between 2010 and 2014. On occasion the staffer, Andre McGee, would pay the women to have sex with the recruits.

Four UL students previously filed a lawsuit against Powell for making false allegations and damaging the reputation of the school and the basketball program. Five women implicated in Powell's book - Jemiah Nash, Marquease Richardson, Precious Burnley, Shinita Martin, and Dolly Bolden - joined that lawsuit and claim they are falsely accused, according to The Associated Press.

The women also claim Powell, coauthor Dick Cady, and the Indianapolis Business Journal's publishing arm used both their real names and stage names in the book without consent. The NCAA, UL, and law enforcement are all investigating Powell's claims, which could result in disciplinary actions and criminal charges.

Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in Jefferson County recently began issuing subpoenas in relation to the criminal case. Prosecutors and law enforcement are still discussing criminal charges, The AP noted.

"We have received a subpoena at IBJ Book Publishing, and we are to appear [before the grand jury] November 5th," Patricia Keiffner, a publisher for IBJ, previously told ESPN.

Almost a month ago, five former UL basketball players spoke to ESPN's Outside the Lines on the condition of anonymity, confirming Powell's allegations. One player said he had sex with an escort that McGee paid.

After leaving UL in 2014, McGee became a basketball assistant coach at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, a post he resigned from recently. Powell told OTL McGee implied to her that UL head men's basketball coach Rick Pitino knew everything that went on in the program.

Pitino has since denied such an assertion and stated he would not resign due to the allegations.

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