WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A former Ohio State University doctor committed acts of sexual abuse against at least 177 students over two decades, the school said Friday.

A 12-month independent investigation found that Richard Strauss, who died in 2005, committed the abuses between 1979 and 1997, while working as a physician at the university, Ohio State president Michael Drake said in an email to students, faculty and staff.

"The findings are shocking and painful to comprehend," wrote Drake, noting that the report also concluded that school personnel at the time "had knowledge of complaints and concerns about Strauss' conduct as early as 1979 but failed to investigate or act meaningfully."

The president said it was "unacceptable" for the university to have failed to prevent the abusive acts, "as were the inadequate efforts to thoroughly investigate complaints raised by students and staff members."

Strauss joined the university as an attending physician in 1978 before serving as a team physician in athletics for over a decade.