Key Points:
A U.S. judge dismissed the IU abuse lawsuit on April 1, 2026
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt cited expired statute of limitations
Lawsuit filed in October 2024 by former IU basketball players
Allegations targeted Dr. Bradford “Brad” Bomba Sr.
Claims involved medically unnecessary rectal exams
A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit filed by former Indiana University (IU) men’s basketball players, who alleged sexual abuse by longtime team physician Dr. Bradford “Brad” Bomba Sr., citing that the claims were filed too late under state law.
The ruling was issued on April 1, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt in the Southern District of Indiana, bringing an abrupt halt to a case that had drawn national attention due to its connection with legendary IU coach Bob Knight and decades-old allegations.
Judge Pratt ruled that the claims fell outside Indiana’s two-year statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse cases. The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, came decades after the alleged incidents occurred during the 1980s and 1990s.
The plaintiffs argued that they only realized in 2024 that the medical examinations they underwent could qualify as sexual abuse under Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational institutions.
However, the court rejected this reasoning. Pratt noted that the players themselves acknowledged the conduct was “widely known among university staff” at the time, indicating they were aware of the issue decades earlier.
She concluded that the plaintiffs had sufficient knowledge in the past to pursue legal action earlier, making their current claims legally invalid.
The lawsuit centered on allegations that Dr. Bradford Bomba, who served as IU’s basketball team physician for nearly three decades, conducted medically unnecessary digital rectal examinations on players during routine physicals.
Former players claimed these examinations were invasive, inappropriate, and not aligned with medical guidance for college-age athletes at the time.
Five former players including Haris Mujezinovic, Charlie Miller, John Flowers, and Larry Richardson Jr. were named in the lawsuit, all of whom played for IU between the 1980s and late 1990s.
The complaint also stated that participation in IU athletics required players to undergo annual physicals with university-assigned physicians, leaving them with little choice but to comply.
The lawsuit accused Indiana University and key figures, including former head coach Bob Knight (who died in 2023) and longtime athletic trainer Tim Garl, of failing to act despite being aware of complaints.
According to court filings, concerns about Bomba’s examinations dated back as early as 1979, when a player reportedly raised complaints with coaching and administrative staff.
Plaintiffs alleged that officials with authority to intervene did not take corrective action, allowing the conduct to continue for years.
The plaintiffs’ legal team attempted to argue a delayed discovery of harm, claiming the statute of limitations should begin when the players understood the nature of the alleged abuse in 2024.
Judge Pratt rejected this argument, emphasizing that the plaintiffs had both awareness of the conduct and knowledge of responsible parties decades earlier, which triggered the legal time limit long before the lawsuit was filed.
As a result, the court determined the case could not proceed, stating that the plaintiffs failed to present a legally viable claim due to expired timelines.
The case had gained wider attention amid similar lawsuits involving alleged abuse by sports doctors at other U.S. universities, including Ohio State and Michigan.
Dr. Bomba, who was not initially named as a defendant in the lawsuit, died in May 2025 at age 89, further complicating the proceedings.
An independent investigation commissioned by Indiana University previously found that while such rectal exams were uncommon, there was no evidence of improper intent, a conclusion disputed by the plaintiffs.
Following the ruling, plaintiff Haris Mujezinovic, who played for IU in the late 1990s, expressed disappointment, stating that the group is evaluating its next legal steps.
(Rh/ARC)
