Montrealer Bennedict Mathurin says he contacted the young woman he accidentally touched a breast following a game on Sunday.
On the eve of playing an important game of the round of Sweet 16 of March Madness, Quebec basketball player Bennedict Mathurin is grappling with a controversy he would no doubt have wanted to avoid.
Earlier this week, as we reported on Wednesday, a video showing Mathurin clutching the chest of a Texas Christian University cheerleader went viral.
On social networks, several Internet users wondered if the star of the University of Arizona team had really touched the young woman and if her gesture was intentional.
Wednesday evening, during a press conference on the sidelines of the round of 16 which will take place this Thursday and Friday, Mathurin was questioned by a journalist regarding the incident.
• Read also: Nike unveils impressive 3D billboard
To the scribe who asked him if he remembered the incident and if he had contacted the young woman, the Wildcats player replied: “Actually, I sent an email to try to contact her. Through the athletic department at TCU, I reached out to her and that’s it.”
Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke previously commented that Mathurin didn’t remember touching the cheerleader.
“Shortly following being back in Tucson, I was made aware that some people on social media were claiming that a video showed Bennedict Mathurin coming into physical contact with a TCU student while leaving the field. I got in touch with the athletic department at TCU and spoke with Bennedict.” said Heeke to ESPN.
• Read also: Adidas causes controversy with its bra ads showing bare breasts
“Although he does not recall having contact with her, he tried to reach the TCU student, through her athletic department, to apologize.”
TCU and the student in question did not react to the incident.
Mathurin and the University of Arizona Wildcats take on the University of Houston on Thursday for a spot in the Elite 8.
See also on the Bag of Chips: