The N.C.A.A. has dropped an investigation of Michigan State’s role in the Lawrence G. Nassar scandal, in which the former university doctor is alleged to have sexually abused hundreds of girls, including prominent gymnasts like Simone Biles as well as Michigan State athletes, saying that the university does not appear to have violated association bylaws.
The N.C.A.A.’s vice president for enforcement, Jonathan F. Duncan, said that an inquiry into Nassar, who last year pleaded guilty to sexually abusing seven girls, and another inspired by an ESPN report in January of sexual assault allegations against football and men’s basketball players, had “not substantiated violations of N.C.A.A. legislation,” Michigan State said on Thursday.
In a statement, Athletic Director Bill Beekman said: “N.C.A.A. member organizations have a specific set of rules to which we hold each other accountable. And while we agree with the N.C.A.A. that we did not commit a violation, that does not diminish our commitment to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student athletes.”
Also Thursday, Kathie Klages, a former Michigan State gymnastics coach, was arraigned on charges of lying to the police. The Michigan attorney general’s office has said Klages knew of an allegation against Nassar as early as the late 1990s. But when interviewed by investigators, she denied knowing of any before 2016, when allegations were widely reported, first by The Indianapolis Star.
The N.C.A.A. initiated an investigation of Michigan State over Nassar in January, when Nassar’s high-profile sentencing in his state criminal case captivated the country, as dozens and dozens of women, including Olympic medalists, confronted him in court with what they said he did to them.
In its January letter, the N.C.A.A. cited bylaws obliging member institutions to protect the welfare of their athletes.
But actually bringing charges was always a long shot, and it would have been virtually unprecedented to have done so under the cited bylaws. The N.C.A.A.’s main enforcement responsibilities regard amateurism and competitive balance. It was criticized for overreach several years ago when it pursued a case against, and then reached a settlement with, Penn State over the former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s serial sexual abuse of boys.
The university president, Lou Anna K. Simon, and the athletic director, Mark Hollis, resigned in January amid the various allegations of university inaction.
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