The University of Colorado conducted an Health & Injuries, training and injury management, and the environment and culture of the cross-country and track teams. The investigation was active from July 21, 2022 until December 2, 2022.
View the Full 82-Page Report | View a Summary Statement From the University of Colorado
Full statement from University of Colorado athletic director Rick George:
We are grateful for the work of the inquiry team, the steering committee, and for the voluntary participation of the more than 60 CU cross country student-athletes, coaches, and staff dating back twenty-five years.
Our goal is to provide a positive, world-class student-athlete experience for every student who chooses CU Boulder, and it is clear in some instances we have fallen short of that goal, especially for some of our female student-athletes as it relates to body composition and culture. For that I apologize. The health and overall well-being of our student-athletes is my top priority and one student-athlete indicating they have had a bad experience is one too many. We will continue to work towards ensuring that our high standards are met for all.
The inquiry reveals that many current and former cross country student-athletes have had a positive experience at CU and does not reveal that any employee—including the current coaching staff—were found to have violated any university, Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, or NCAA policies or rules. The general conclusions of this inquiry are also similar to an internal review that was conducted more than a year ago. As the inquiry team acknowledges in the report, it made no specific efforts to corroborate any facts or individual statements provided by witnesses and did not establish whether statements, events or incidents even occurred.
In response to our internal review, CU Boulder Athletics made several major policy changes dating back to last year and will now build on those changes by adding more guidelines to our body composition tests that are designed to further protect student-athletes. The guidelines include requiring student-athletes to meet with medical and mental health professionals prior to opting into the body composition program and not allowing student-athletes in sports susceptible to body dysmorphia to participate in body composition tests in their first year post-secondary. These new procedures are fully supported by our coaches, nutritionists, and medical team. We will also implement a new third-party anonymous reporting platform to allow student-athletes and staff to report concerns that will work in concert with pre-existing campus programs as well as our robust mental health resources, considered to be among the best in the nation.
The cross country coaches and our nutrition staff understand the allegations and are committed to addressing the overarching concerns that have become evident throughout this inquiry process. The student-athletes, the coaches, and the nutrition staff have my full, unequivocal support and I realize that this process has been exceedingly difficult for everyone. It is also my responsibility to hold all of our coaches and staff accountable and I will work closely with our cross country coaching and support staff to ensure they live up to our departmental values, which prioritize the mental health and wellness of our student-athletes.
With the completion of this inquiry and the subsequent policy changes that have been immediately enacted, we look forward to a bright future for the program and our student-athletes.
Full personal statement from University of Colorado head cross country and track & field coach Mark Wetmore:
We are very proud of the athletic successes the CU cross country and track & field program has achieved during our tenure: 39 conference team titles, 8 NCAA team titles, 27 individual NCAA champions and a dozen members of the United States Olympic Team. Yet throughout our time at CU, the positive development, health and well-being of our athletes has always taken precedence over athletic performance. Our success is due to a culture that embraces discipline, accountability and sport science while supporting one another.
Approximately 400 athletes have been members of CU’s program since I was hired 31 years ago. This report describes a limited number of athletes who voiced negative experiences during their time at CU and to the voluntary body composition science resource that our sport offers, along with every other sport program at CU.
The report is clear to say it is not a misconduct investigation, and the inquiry team did not undertake specific efforts to corroborate facts related to incidents or events reported by student-athletes. See page 3 of the Inquiry. Further, the report does not establish whether the referenced statements, events or incidents occurred, which are presented primarily in summary by the investigating body. See page 3 of the Inquiry. Some of these unsubstantiated characterizations of events we vehemently deny.
The report notes that the witnesses interviewed were those identified or suggested by the complaining athlete. See page 6 of the Inquiry. Addendum C contains the comments by many student-athletes not included in the original report’s fact finding who, after finding out about the inquiry, wanted to express their support for us and relay their own incredibly positive experiences and gratitude to the program. Almost 50 more current and former student-athletes expressed public support for the program after also belatedly learning of the inquiry.
While we wish every athlete had a perfect experience at CU, that is an implausible expectation for any organization. In any enterprise that measures results – sports, academics, business – there will be those individuals who fall short of their hopes or experience hardships that frustrate their progress. While we can’t guarantee success for everyone, we’ve always tried our best. And more importantly, have always endeavored to do so in a manner that is respectful and considerate of all of our athletes. We take very seriously that we are educators first, and coaches second. We are immensely proud of the hundreds of responsible, empathetic, ambitious and successful graduates. It has been our honor and life’s work to coach them. We are so excited about our teams this fall and the future of this program.
