Colorado players asked to submit DNA samples

BOULDER, Colo. -- Campus police have asked some Colorado football players to provide DNA samples as investigators look into a student's claim she was gang raped at a party for recruits.

Officers talked to coach Gary Barnett on Thursday and explained players could voluntarily give DNA samples or face the possibility of receiving a court order to do so, Lt. Tim McGraw said Saturday.

"We've asked people we believe we were there to supply us with some DNA samples," McGraw said. "It is part of a thorough investigation. It can be used to place somebody there. It can be used to show they weren't there."

Only one football player with significant playing time on the nation's No. 3-ranked team has been mentioned in connection with the accusations, Barnett said in a statement released by the athletic department Saturday. The coach did not identify the player and said he voluntarily took a lie detector test.

"The results indicate that the student-athlete was not complicit in this alleged activity," Barnett said.

Witnesses who attended the Dec. 7 party have told The Daily Camera of Boulder a half dozen players were there, along with some high school players being recruited by the team.

The witnesses also told the newspaper they took the woman to Boulder Community Hospital after the alleged attack.

McGraw would not discuss why the DNA was being sought. He declined to identify the players from whom DNA is being sought, or say how many players are involved. He also would not say in what form the DNA would be obtained.