Second US university rocked by sex abuse claims

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A second US university has been rocked by sex abuse claims, just two weeks after a Penn State football coach was accused of sexual abuse involving eight boys over 15 years.

New York's Syracuse University has placed longtime assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine on administrative leave "in light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation."

ESPN is reporting that police are investigating Fine on allegations of child molestation.

Fine is accused of molesting a former Syracuse ball boy, who is now 39. The alleged victim told ESPN the abuse occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.

Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim.

Earlier this month, Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was indicted on 40 counts of sexual abuse, involving eight young boys, between 1994 and 2009.

Some of the alleged incidents occurred while Sandusky was the team's defensive co-ordinator; others after he had been eased out in 1998, when early reports of sexual misconduct were investigated by the college authorities.

Sandusky, who is 67, is free on US$100,000 ($127,000) bail awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.