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Report: Mavericks fire executive following sexual assault allegation

Danny Bollinger / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Dallas Mavericks have fired director of player personnel Tony Ronzone after new details surfaced concerning a sexual assault allegation made public last summer, sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

Reports emerged in July saying Ronzone had forced himself on a woman in Las Vegas hotel room during the NBA's annual summer league in July 2019. The report, which was first published in Sports Illustrated, alleges Ronzone kissed and groped the woman before pinning her on the bed and placing his hand on her crotch without consent.

Ronzone's attorney, Mark Baute, told Sports Illustrated the woman's "claims are meritless."

Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall launched an investigation after owner Mark Cuban received an email from the accusing party in Sept. 2019. Cuban appointed Marshall in the wake of a scathing 2018 report from Sports Illustrated that highlighted misogyny and instances of inappropriate sexual behavior in the organization's front office.

Ronzone was not fired following the initial allegations, with Marshall claiming "there was no evidence presented of sexual assault."

Dallas released a statement following the allegations published in Sports Illustrated, calling the report "one-sided, incomplete, and sensational form of journalism, with its inaccuracies, mischaracterizations, and omissions." The team's statement added the investigation had been paused "pending further credible evidence emerging and the zero-tolerance policy remains."

The Mavericks have yet to comment on reports that Ronzone has been relieved from his duties as director of player personnel.

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