Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was released by the team on Monday as the NFL veteran battles allegations of sexual misconduct made by 16 women.
“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement, paying tribute to Tucker’s “focus, drive and resilience.”
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“We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives,” DeCosta added. The 35-year-old Tucker has strongly denied claims made by multiple massage therapists that he had behaved inappropriately during treatments. Allegations against the kicker include exposing his genitals and brushing some of the therapists’ thighs with his fingers.
Reports have said that two of the spas involved deemed Tucker’s behavior so egregious he was banned from using the facilities again. Tucker in January described the allegations as “unequivocally false.”
“I have never before been accused of misconduct of any kind, and I have never been accused of acting inappropriately in front of a massage therapist or during a massage therapy session or during other bodywork,” Tucker said.
“I have never received any complaints from a massage therapist, have never been dismissed from a massage therapy or bodywork session, and have never been told that I was not welcome at any spa or other place of business,” he added. In a separate statement, Tucker said he had “never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary or make anyone feel uncomfortable.”
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