Coach-athlete sex, rape and PEDs at Huntington University? Nick Johnson scandal gets grimmer thanks to David Woods expose

I totally agree that it appears the PED angle is the better / stronger case for the plaintiffs for the very reasons you stated. It should be more cut-n-dried with some sort of paper trail that can evaluated easily. This was actually brought up in a very similar way a month ago, but there was no real discussion about it at that time.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege that Johnson said he was performing a research study / experiment that was endorsed by Nike (as Vand alluded to) and the Huntington AD. Members of the team were asked to participate, but would have to sign a consent forms and NDAs. In the Dyestat interview, Woods said that it was only a few runners at the very top who were asked to participate. So, a couple of questions / requests would be:

-Let's see these consent forms and NDAs and verify with Nike and the HU Athletic Director (if they are on the documentation). Anybody else aware of this "study"?

-What did team members know and suspect, if anything? Were any guys asked to participate in the study, or was it just the same girls?

As you mentioned, Oldrunner89, we'll likely just have to wait and see (unless some real investigative work is done, but I'm doubtful on that).

As pure speculation, though, what happens (legally) when it turns out that the whole "experiment" was another Johnson special injection? They do have consent forms (which, tbh, I really doubt, but let's say they do) that says it's carnitine. Stoffel and Wilson say they believe they were doped with unknown substances. Dirr, victim1, & Johnsons say Nike nor the Huntington AD were ever involved. It was a self-directed study. It was indeed carnitine and they just wanted to do their own research.

Everyone here would be on the same page re: what's happening here. The Johnsons definitely would never coach again. Victim1's running would likely be forever tainted (esp high school). But, I am not sure what happens from a lawsuit perspective. Would it be another they said / they said? Would Huntington U (and the AD) have exposure in this scenario? Are ADs supposed to just know about or be responsible for when coaches go rogue? Unfortunately, I think there will always be a good chance of this being settled somewhere along the way (and I wonder what, if anything, we would get to know about it).

I believe the Johnsons (especially if they worked together on this, which I believe they did) will take more of an impactful hit from this than from the other claims. However, I wonder if it could play out in almost the same way through the proceedings. I am not sure how a normal everyday Joe sees PEDs. It could possibly be all about whether or not there was consent given (even though all would know it could be crazily unprofessional and against all protocols / standards). I realize I'm just totally spitballing here, so flame away - lol!

As for the latest posts, there is no chance that Victim1 is NOT being coached by the Johnsons. They probably carpooled together to the news interview. I don't think choosing Huntington was the right choice (lol), but at this point, I think options would likely be limited. I would be surprised if there were any significant HU NIL money.

Finally, another Huntington North HS alum is.... Hannah Stoffel!!!

And, Emma Wilson's HS coach (also in Indiana) was terminated for "unprofessional behavior" when she was a high school senior.

The rumors are that they are going to reinstate Lauren at some point. Talk about not caring about your school reputation. They should be distancing themselves as far away from this couple as possible. I hope the rumors are not true. Seems like a mark against the entire sport to me.

What’s the chance victim #1 broke a national high school record by seconds, but wasn’t being doped (knowingly or unknowingly)?

Low.

WHY?

If (speculation) it were to be that the Johnson's were independently doing administration of drugs without university or other clinical body oversight, there would likely be legal trouble. the average person cannot administer any sort of substance via injection. That would be a huge issue.

Also, the supposed consent forms associated with the study failed to properly inform the study participants of all risks and were not transparent. This runs directly against human subjects research under the umbrella of the OHRP/FDA/NIH and it would go against all of the rules laid out in the Belmont Report in human subjects research.

There would be an investigation by whatever arm looks at breaking the rules of the office of human research protection or whoever does that sort of stuff at a university level.

Or maybe just police.

lot of speculation.

I know the rules you are supposed to follow in clinical research trials. not who investigates and brings punishment when things go wrong.

Cool - Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my hypothetical. I'm glad there are basic rules in place. (I thought there likely was, but had no idea!). I am glad that it would appear to be more challenging for the Johnsons to weasel out of the injections part, and I hope to see/hear what happens!

Put me down as a <0.5% chance that victim1 broke the HS record legitimately.

If the plan is to reinstate Lauren... wow, that would be crazy... so much exposure for the next time. It would be a little demoralizing, tbh, that the University would assess that there are so few real XC fans, that their reputation with us doesn't matter. Te could have a good T-shirt idea for HU 2023 XC, though... "We're a bunch of grinders!"

I'm sure the interim coach is a nice guy/isn't involved but you've got to be kidding yourself if you think he's giving her workouts - or at least the workouts she's actually doing. Nothing is stopping her from going over to their house or simply texting them for workouts/advice.

Honestly, if she's that brainwashed she'll probably never stop getting workouts from them no matter who is in charge unless they're literally in jail.

Can confirm, this is what I am hearing as well. No idea in regards to the timeline, but I have been told HU is not actively looking for a new coach and will most likely reinstate former head/assistant coaches.

Zero.

Hi Astro! Ha - Classic troll post!

- Start off with saying something universally / generally true.
- Move on to saying that I think something that I 100% don't believe and have never come close to saying. (strawman)
- Finish with a grand flourish ad hominem!

Nice job! lol

I know you're just trolling, but in case you are not, what do you so with the Huntington Police and District Attorney's Office of Northern Indiana? Are they biased as well - willing to risk a lot to cover for Nick Johnson? He was able to win them over during victim1 interviews? I am not in any way saying that Johnson(s) are not guilty. They are already guilty of much. I am waiting to see what additional evidence turns up for what has been alleged.

I do believe we are "apologists" for differing methods of how to attain "justice". It's well documented that you enjoy assigning guilt to people based on nothing more than an accusation, an association a person may have, or simply what just appears to be likely guilty according to you. If / When you find yourself wrongly accused, you will so quickly prove yourself to be a complete and utter hypocrite when you attempt to defend yourself. Lacking in self-awareness, however, I bet you'll not in the slightest reconsider your stance on due process. You’ll simply maintain the stance that due process and the benefit of the doubt should be afforded to you, but not others. You'll be deserving, though, of what you give others.

You're an accuser and condemner. Nothing more.

Ah - jk! No worries, friend! I know we're just shootin’ the breeze here. Have a nice Thanksgiving. :)

Little surprised nobody has mentioned that Emma Wilson had issues with a coach in high school as well, prompting her to not run her senior year.

indystar.com

Indiana's top runner Emma Wilson says she won't run for Greencastle High School anymore

@indystar

'I am sad that I’m not going to state,' Emma Wilson said. 'I don’t want to run for Greencastle any more. I just want to run for coach.'

Open link

Unless "not actively looking for a new coach" doesn't include the job being posted on their website.

The article clearly states that Emma Wilson did not have issues with her HS coach.

She chose not to run for her high school (senior year track) due to him being forced out.

Huh? What issues? Did you read it before posting?

From the article: "The letter from Superintendent Jeff Hubble cites Jordan for "an irretrievable breakdown in your professional relationships that cannot be resolved" to allow Jordan continue as a coach and teacher."

EW went to Illinois for 2 years and then transferred to Huntington. Why would a D1 athlete in the Big 10 transfer to an NAIA school, even if it is in her home state?!?!?

From the article: "The letter from Superintendent Jeff Hubble cites Jordan for "an irretrievable breakdown in your professional relationships that cannot be resolved" to allow Jordan continue as a coach and teacher."

EW went to Illinois for 2 years and then transferred to Huntington. Why would a D1 athlete in the Big 10 transfer to an NAIA school, even if it is in her home state?!?!?

From the article: "The letter from Superintendent Jeff Hubble cites Jordan for "an irretrievable breakdown in your professional relationships that cannot be resolved" to allow Jordan continue as a coach and teacher."

EW went to Illinois for 2 years and then transferred to Huntington. Why would a D1 athlete in the Big 10 transfer to an NAIA school, even if it is in her home state?!?!?

Emma’s high school situation is a very different case and has nothing to do with this. In short, her high school coach experienced some very racist treatment from the school district and was forced out. She basically boycotted and decided not to compete for them her senior year because of the poor treatment of her coach. I commend her for standing along with her coach through the poor treatment.