There is no proof to back up claims that supporters racially heckled and yelled at a Duke volleyball player last month, according to a Brigham Young University study into the matter.
BYU reiterated that it will not allow behavior that endangers any student-athlete in its release of the findings of its inquiry into the match on August 26.
More than 50 persons who attended the event, including staff from the sports departments of both institutions, student-athletes from both, event management and security, and spectators in the arena, were alleged to have been contacted by the school. It also examined match footage that was captured in raw form and audio and video records.
The university said that it has removed a ban on a supporter who was found to have yelled racist epithets at Duke sophomore Rachel Richardson during the game as a result of the inquiry. The ban’s inconvenience to the fan was also apologized for.
In a statement, Duke athletic director Nina King defended Richardson and the rest of her squad.
“The 18 members of the Duke University volleyball team are exceptionally strong women who represent themselves, their families, and Duke University with the utmost integrity,” she said Friday after BYU issued its statement. “We unequivocally stand with and champion them, especially when their character is called into question. Duke Athletics believes in respect, equality and inclusiveness, and we do not tolerate hate and bias.”
In the aftermath of the Aug. 26 match, South Carolina women’s basketball program canceled a home-and-home series with BYU. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said she did not want to put her players in the situation that she said Richardson had experienced.
The Gamecocks were scheduled to start the season at home against BYU on Nov. 7, then play at the Utah campus during the 2023-24 season.
A message was left Friday seeking comment from Staley.
BYU said it remains committed to rooting out racism wherever it is found. The school also said it understands some will criticize their investigation as being selective in its review.
“To the contrary, we have tried to be as thorough as possible in our investigation, and we renew our invitation for anyone with evidence contrary to our findings to come forward and share it,” the school said.
BYU is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church. Race relations is one of the most sensitive issues for a faith that until 1978 banned Black church members serving in the lay priesthood, going on missions or getting married in temples.
The Salt Lake City-based religion has worked to improve race relations, including calling out white supremacy and launching a formal alliance with the NAACP, but some Black church members and scholars say discriminatory opinions linger from a ban rooted in a belief that black skin was a curse.
The number of Black church members has increased, but still only accounts for small portion of the 16 million worldwide members. There are no Black members serving in the highest levels of global leadership.