The University of Oregon has suspended three men's basketball players involved in a forcible rape investigation, which the Lane County District Attorney's office is not prosecuting at this time due to a lack of evidence.
According to ESPN, the school announced Monday Damyean Dotson, Dominic Artis and Brandon Austin are not participating in team activities. An unnamed source within the Oregon Ducks basketball staff said the three are not likely to return to the team.
The incident in question took place early in the morning of March 9 and was reported March 13, according to a Eugene County Police report dated April 28. The redacted report, obtained by the Oregonian, only said the victim was a black female, who was able to name Dotson, Artis and Austin as the perpetrators.
"While there is no doubt the incidents occurred, the conflicting statements and actions by the victim make this case unprovable as a criminal case," the district attorney's office said in a statement.
Michael Gottfredson said in a statement the police report was deeply troubling, especially in light of the White House releasing a list of 55 schools under federal investigations for alleged Title IX violations.
"We are deeply concerned about information contained in the police report recently released by the Eugene Police Department. Federal laws that protect the privacy of all students preclude the university from commenting about students," he said. "However, the university takes allegations of misconduct very seriously. In addition, a full range of services and support are offered to students, including those required by Title IX and others beyond the requirements of Title IX. The university has established internal conduct processes for handling misconduct allegations. At this point, we ask that you please respect the processes and student privacy."
The Wall Street Journal reported in March of Austin being implicated in a previous sexual assault, taking place in Nov. At the time, he was a freshman at Providence College in Rhode Island. He transferred to Oregon in Jan. amidst that sexual assault investigation and resulting suspension.
