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Former OSU Diving Coach Named In Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Ohio State University

Two former divers have filed a lawsuit accusing USA Diving of ignoring or obstructing inquiries into allegations that a former Ohio State University coach sexually abused them when they were young athletes.

The lawsuit names former OSU coach Will Bohonyi, the Ohio State University Diving Club, and Indianapolis-based USA Diving, Incorporated.  The lawsuit, filed in an Indiana federal court, alleges the abuse began in 2009, when Bohonyi was an assistant coach for the Indiana Diving Club, and continued with another diver in 2014,  when Bohonyi worked with the Ohio State diving program.  

The suit alleges Bohonyi coerced and forced the divers into frequent sex, telling them, "You owe me this."  It also alleges that  Ohio State was aware of the allegations, but did not investigate until reports of the abuse in Indiana surfaced.

Calls to a telephone listing for Bohonyi's most recent Columbus, Ohio, address went unanswered.
USA Diving declined to comment.

Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson says the school opened an administrative investigation in 2014 after learning about the allegations. Bohonyi was fired in August 2014.
 

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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