A Nigerian-born female basketball player, Favor Ayodele has joined five of her colleagues in suing their former coach at University of Pittsburgh in the United States of America, on allegations of abuse.
Sports247 gathered that Ayodele and the other players alleged in their law suit that the defendant, Tory Verdi affected them with psychological abuse and retaliation after making complaints.
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Named alongside Ayodele in the suit are fellow-former students, MaKayla Elmore, Brooklynn Miles, Isabella Perkins and Jasmine Timmerson as well as Raeven Boswell, who remains an undergraduate at the institution.
Ayodele and the other student-athletes filed individual lawsuits in the US district court for the western district of Pennsylvania, alleging Title IX violations and creation of a hostile educational environment.
They also accused Verdi of intentionally inflicting emotional distress, breach of contract in the removal of student scholarships and more complaints about alleged unwholesome conduct by the coach.
The Nigerian-born lass and her co-plaintiffs further alleged that Verdi tried to create a racial divide amongst the team, while also stating that his behaviour was reported to university staff, but no action was taken.
Ayodele and the others are seeking monetary damages, plus acknowledgment from the university that Title IX violations took place by Verdi, who was hired by Pitt in the spring of 2023, after stints at UMass and Eastern Michigan.
The six plaintiffs’ attorney, Keenan Holmes told TribLive, “This case is not about the Xs and Os of coaching. Some of his actions go beyond sports. This went beyond the bounds of decency.”
