Report: Air Force Academy calls for investigation into athletic department

The superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy has called for an Inspector General's investigation into the school's athletic department over reports that cadets may have cheated on tests, "smoked synthetic marijuana, drank themselves sick and may have used date-rape drugs to incapacitate women for sexual assault," according to a recent report from Tom Roeder of The Colorado Springs Gazette.

The superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy has called for an Inspector General's investigation into the school's athletic department over reports that cadets may have cheated on tests, "smoked synthetic marijuana, drank themselves sick and may have used date-rape drugs to incapacitate women for sexual assault," according to a report from Tom Roeder of the Colorado Springs Gazette.

The number of cadets who allegedly participated in what Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said were "poor choices" represented a small fraction of the 1,000 or so participants in academy sports programs, according to the report, which cited dozens of interviews with academy officials.

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The allegations address incidents that reportedly took place as early as 2010. In one instance in 2011, "agents of the Office of Special Investigations at the school were told about a party where cadet athletes used spice, a synthetic marijuana, and allegedly engaged in gang rape."

More from The Gazette:

"The Gazette investigation also found that athletes cheated on tests, and in one instance, an economics professor created a special course for two basketball players — and taught it around their game and practice schedules."

According to the report, 32 cadets have been investigated, including 16 football players and several other athletes. Of the 16 football players investigated, seven made it to graduation. A majority of the 32 investigated left the academy voluntarily or involuntarily through resignations, dismissals or discharges.

- Marc Weinreich