Duke athletics fires back at BYU review, supports volleyball player's account

Duke athletic director Nina King issued a statement on Friday in response to BYU athletics announcing that it found no evidence of Duke volleyball player Rachel Richardson subject to racist abuse during an Aug. 26 match between the schools.

King responded forcefully in a statement.

“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.  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,” King said.

BYU’s review found ‘no evidence’ of racist remarks or abuse.

BYU athletics announced on Friday that after a lengthy investigation, it has found no evidence that Richardson was racially heckled or had racist remarks directed at her from the stands at a recent match at BYU.

The official announcement from BYU states that “from our extensive review, we have not found any evidence to corroborate the allegation that fans engaged in racial heckling or uttered racial slurs at the event. As we stated earlier, we would not tolerate any conduct that would make a student-athlete feel unsafe. That is the reason for our immediate response and our thorough investigation.”

Previously, a fan identified in the student section at the Aug. 26 match had been banned from all future BYU events. That person was not a BYU student, according to the university. In light of the conclusions of their own investigation, BYU has lifted the ban and apologized for it, stating that “we have not found any evidence that that individual engaged in such an activity.”

This alleged episode came to light when Richardson’s godmother, who attend the match, took to Twitter to say that racial slurs were being directed at Richardson when she was serving, and that extra security was placed by the Duke bench. Richardson’s godmother, Lesa Pamplin, has since locked her Twitter account.

Richardson herself later released a statement after the match.

#morethanavolleyballplayer pic.twitter.com/JJsofA6VgI

— rachel ♡ (@rachrich03) August 28, 2022