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Minnesota's Lynch drops appeal of expulsion for sexual misconduct

Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Center Reggie Lynch dropped his appeal of Minnesota's sexual misconduct findings against him Thursday, meaning his suspension and expulsion from the university will stand.

The school's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EOAA) relayed its findings on two April 2016 incidents in January. Though he dropped his appeal, Lynch maintained his innocence at a Thursday press conference.

"I did not commit any of the acts I'm accused of," Lynch said, courtesy of the Star Tribune's Rochelle Olson.

He added: "My friends, family and anyone who knows me knows the truth; I have never and would never commit any of the acts I am being accused of. As the son of an amazing mother, I respect all women. I have become a victim of false allegations, and it deeply saddens me to what that can do to someone's life."

The school suspended Lynch in January after the EOAA found him responsible for sexual misconduct in an early April incident where a woman said he'd sexually assaulted her. Citing the same student code violations, the EOAA also issued a separate recommendation to suspend him based on an unrelated incident involving a different woman that occurred in late April.

In May 2016, Lynch was arrested after a freshman said he'd sexually assaulted her, but wasn't charged in the case.

Lynch's mother Marlene said her son decided to drop the appeals as they "do not feel the appeal process will be fair, unbiased, and balanced given the political climate at the U."

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