The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, who have at least six football players charged with sexual assault, will be investigated by the U.S. Department of Education.

The probe was ignited by a complaint about the manner it handled a report of sexual violence, according to  The Tennessean.

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Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, says ESPN, confirmed that the school has been notified of the complaint with the federal government filed by an individual.

However, Cheek said that the university cannot disclose the details of the complaint as it runs counter to privacy laws prevent.

It was not revealed  whether the complainant was the freshman girl who was sexually violated while intoxicated with alcohol andwho was interviewed by an earlier The Tennessean report. .

The girl reported the sexual assault to a resident assistant two days later but was made me out to be a liar. 

Thereafter, the alleged assailant was cleared after an investigation by university officials.

The girl said that she was more devatated by the manner the university responded than the incident itself.

New SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is pursuing efforts for the league to study how to best minimize conduct issues among athletes. 

School officials said they would cooperate with the Office of Civil Rights and are in the process of collecting and preparing the information requested.

The university implemented a sexual misconduct and relationship violence policy, which will be finalized in August. 

In May, the SEC banned member institutions from accepting transfer students with history of serious misconduct.

Among those from the team facing sexual assault charges are former linebacker A.J. Johnson and defensive back Michael Williams will face trial aggravated rape charges beginning Aug. 24. 

They pleaded not guilty.

Both have were suspended from the team in November--a day before they were identified by police  as subjects of a rape investigation. 

Wide receiver Von Pearson was s identified as a suspect in an alleged rape of a 19-year-old Tennessee student , while defensive back Riyahd Jones, 20, named a suspect in a reported sexual assault.

A football player was also named in a sexual assault complaint made to university officials last September by a female freshman, while running back Marlin Lane, 23, was named as a suspect in the rape of an 18-year-old high school on April 9, 2013. 

TagsUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville, Tennessee football players, Tennessee Vols, sexual assault, U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, A.J. Johnson, Michael Williams, Von Pearson, Riyahd Jones, Marlin Lane