Two University of Miami football players were arrested on sexual battery charges on Tuesday, according to Yahoo News.
20-year-old linebackers JaWand Blue and Alex Figueroa were kicked off the team and campus for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
"Earlier today, I permanently dismissed Jawand Blue and Alexander Figueroa from the UM football team. The University has also suspended the students from school and barred them from all campus investigation and continues to cooperate with local law enforcement," Miami athletic director Blake James said in a statement.
James continued, "Any allegation of a sexual assault is extremely serious, and the University will not tolerate conduct that threatens the sanctity and safety of our students and our campus. We hold all of our students - especially the student athletes - to the highest standards of moral conduct. The University is committed to maintaining a safe campus environment for all."
The two athletes reportedly admitted to getting the female classmate intoxicated, then allegedly raping her several times in Figueroa's dorm room over the 4th of July weekend.
Blue and Figueroa reportedly confessed to buying alcohol for the victim and leaving her "physically helpless to resist." They then allegedly performed sexual acts without her consent, according to ABC News.
The two football players were jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail each, according to USA Today.
The Coral Gables police reports read that the victim first reported the assault to university police, which turned to the Coral Gables department to investigate.
University President Donna Shalala issued a statement, staying that she spoken with the victim, a Miami student who was not identified.
"We have zero tolerance for sexual assault and gender-based violence. There is not confusion about our responsibility as a university: we will fully and compassionately support the victim of sexual assault," stated Shalala.
