An Ohio State University wrestler is calling Rep. Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus MORE (R-Ohio) a “phony” in an interview with CNN for saying he was not aware of allegations of inappropriate touching and sexual abuse by a former doctor on the wrestling team.

The person who spoke to CNN requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the allegations and out of concern for his family’s well-being. CNN says he is the fifth wrestler from the program to allege that Jordan knew of the actions of Richard Strauss, the former team doctor who died in 2005.

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"Jordan is denying this because obviously it would be political suicide for him," the former wrestler said to CNN in a report published on Tuesday. "He's still denying it. Jim Jordan knew. He didn't do anything about it."

Other news media have offered different counts on the number of wrestlers making the allegation, many of whom have spoken anonymously. The Washington Post has reported that seven former wrestlers have alleged that Jordan knew of misconduct by Strauss.

Jordan has denied the allegations that he knew of Strauss's alleged actions. He served as an assistant coach on the Ohio State team between 1987 and 1995 and says he did not hear of inappropriate behavior by the doctor.

While a number of wrestlers have said Jordan did know of the allegations, others have backed him.

Six former Ohio State wrestling coaches issued statements defending the GOP lawmaker on Monday against claims he was aware of the allegations against Strauss.

“What has been said about Jim Jordan is absolutely wrong,” the half-dozen coaches said in a joint statement. “We all worked on the wrestling coaching staff during Jim’s tenure at The Ohio State University. None of us saw or heard of abuse of OSU wrestlers. The well-being of student-athletes was all of our concern. If we had heard of any abuse, we would have spoken up.”

President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and many of Jordan's colleagues have offered support, though a request that the Office of Congressional Ethics investigate the matter has also been filed.

The wrestler who spoke to CNN for Tuesday's story said he told Jordan about Strauss's behavior.

"I remember coming up and saying, 'Strauss held my balls longer than normal.' He just snickered,” the former wrestler claimed, speaking of a conversation at the time with Jordan.

The former wrestler also recalled a time when he said he met with Jordan and several athletes who were all "clumped together” and he said he told Jordan "something to the effect of 'his hands are cold as shit; he checked out every hair on my ball,'" in reference to Strauss.

According to the former wrestler, Jordan said he had "nothing to do with this" before walking away.

"He's sitting here and directly lying," the former wrestler continued.

He said an account from fellow former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato is "absolutely truthful."

DiSabato claimed Strauss groped him on multiple occasions while he was on the Ohio State wrestling team and also claimed Jordan knew about the sexual abuse allegations surrounding the doctor.