Minnesota opens wrestling investigation after drug claims

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota has initiated an internal investigation of the wrestling program, following a team member’s now-disputed allegation that the head coach covered up the wrestlers’ plans to sell and use the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

An attorney for longtime coach J Robinson says his client told his superiors “through multiple channels” earlier this year that team members were using drugs. One wrestler, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Star Tribune, told the Minneapolis newspaper last week that Robinson collected hundreds of Xanax pills from members of the team and did not report the issue to police or the university.

Campus police are conducting a criminal investigation and have given school officials approval to launch their own investigation, according to university spokesman Evan Lapiska.