3 Minnesota Football Players Cleared of Sexual Harassment Allegations by School

On Monday, Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press reported three University of Minnesota football players were cleared of sexual harassment allegations, but two others had their suspensions upheld regarding sexual assault allegations.

Running back Kobe McCrary, quarterback Mark Williams and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. had the previous decision to remove their one-year suspensions upheld by Provost Karen Hanson in what Krawczynski called the school's final round of appeals.

However, Hanson determined the one-year suspension for Carlton Djam and the expulsion of KiAnte Hardin were both correct.

Winfield addressed the situation on his Twitter page:

According to Krawczynski a woman "said she was pressured into having sex with multiple football players" in September. While authorities didn't press charges, "the school launched its own investigation, and a report by the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action department determined the 10 players violated the student conduct code."

The five players involved in Monday's ruling were among those 10. The provost was involved because the woman appealed a university appeals panel's decision to remove the one-year suspensions for Winfield and McCrary, while Williams, Djam and Hardin filed their own appeals.