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Geno Auriemma Sued For Discrimination By NBA Official, Accused Of Sexual Harrassment

Geno Auriemma has been sued by a female NBA security official. The suit alleges that Auriemma made unwanted advances of a sexual nature and retaliated after being rebuffed by having the official removed from her position.

By Pat Johnston
SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 06: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Women's Final Four Championship game at the Alamodome on April 6, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 06: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Women's Final Four Championship game at the Alamodome on April 6, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Connecticut and USA Olympic Women's National Team basketball coach Geno Auriemma has been sued by an NBA official who accused him of discrimination and sexual harassment stemming from an incident in 2009 in Russia (via New York Times).

Kelley Hardwick, a female security official for the NBA, has filed suit in Manhattan against Auriemma, the NBA and USA Basketball. She alleges that in 2009 while the U.S. Women's basketball was playing in a tournament in Russia, Auriemma followed Hardwick to her hotel, grabbed her and tried to kiss her. When she refused Auriemma's alleged advances, Hardwick claims that the coach was able to have her removed from her post as the chief security official at the London Olympics for the Women's basketball team.

In an interview, Hardwick said, "I was willing to close this story in 2009. If Geno had not interfered with my job and my livelihood, I would not have filed this lawsuit." Auriemma said in an emailed statement, "I was unaware of this lawsuit until hearing about it in media reports today and therefore will have no comment."

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