By Kanishka Singh and Akriti Sharma

(Reuters) – A federal judge has dismissed cases brought by several former students against Ohio State University tied to the sexual abuse they said they suffered against former university athletics team doctor Richard Strauss.

Judge Michael Watson stated that it was clear that Strauss, who took his own life in 2005, had sexually abused many young men.

According to a Wednesday court filing in the U.S. District Court for Southern District of Ohio, he denied OSU’s motion for dismissal on the grounds that victims had outlived the statute of limitations.

According to NBC News, the statute of limitations in Ohio for cases of criminal rape is twenty years.

A total of 180 Ohio State University students claimed that they had been sexually assaulted more than 20 years ago by their doctor. The school released a May 2019 report saying that university staff knew but failed to take action.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs said that they are contemplating appealing to the court, according to a statement cited from an NBC affiliate. Watson’s decision was described by the legal team as “deeply disappointing”.

According to an analysis of historical sex abuse cases, in March the State Medical Board of Ohio opened 91 cases of sexual assault against doctors and licensed medical professionals.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine established the taskforce to produce the report in 2019, in response the Strauss scandal. In 1998, he left the university and committed suicide in 2005.

After identifying 1,254 cases of sexual impropriety dating back 25 years, the taskforce decided to make 91 active.

Ohio State University announced Wednesday that it had reached agreements with over 230 survivors. The university will cover professional certified counseling and treatment costs for any Strauss victims.