As Ohio State prepares to make its final settlement with victims of Dr. Richard Strauss, here’s a look at the history of the case.
Strauss was employed as a university physician by Ohio State from 1978 to 1998, where he treated students, including student athletes, according to the university’s Strauss investigation webpage. In 2018, former OSU wrestler Michael DiSabato came forward about the sexual abuse he experienced by Strauss, which prompted an investigation by Ohio State.
On May 17, 2019, the investigation report was published, which found that at least 177 male students were sexually abused by Strauss, with incidents happening within his capacity as team physician but also as a physician within the Student Health Center.
Additionally, it was found that university staff had knowledge of Strauss’ abuse as early as 1979 but were not proactive in addressing it. Reports of his abuse did not go beyond the Athletics Department or the Student Health Center until 1996, which led to Strauss’ removal from Athletics and Student Health that same year. However, Strauss was still employed as a tenured professor in the School of Public Health.
After the discipline he received but during his employment as a tenured faculty member, Strauss opened an off-campus, private, men’s clinic where he continued to sexually abuse Ohio State students.
Strauss retired from the university March 1, 1998, and received an “Emeritus” status, which he maintained until his death by suicide in 2005.
There have been numerous lawsuits and settlements amounting to tens of millions of dollars since the first victim of Strauss came forward in 2018. Moreover, victims continued to come forward this year, alleging Strauss abused them.
Recently retired Columbus Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ came forward May 14 that he was a victim of Strauss while a student athlete at Bishop Ready High School, the first allegation that places Strauss within a high school setting. Strauss was conducting a body fat study paid for by Ohio State, which Happ said allowed him to access local high school students across central Ohio.
Since Happ came forward, more first responders have revealed they were abused by the disgraced doctor.
“Surviving Ohio State,” a George Clooney-produced documentary about Strauss’ abuse and Ohio State’s failure to protect students, released on the streaming service HBO MAX June 17, 2025.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who was Richard Strauss? A look at the OSU doctor at the center of abuse scandal
Reporting by Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nora Igelnik, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
