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Entire cheerleading team suspended following prostitution claims

An entire US cheerleading squad has been suspended after allegations of prostitution, bullying and misconduct emerged in an anonymous letter sent to their college president.

The Coastal Carolina University athletic department has launched a conduct investigation into the allegations, shattering the team’s hopes of competing at the national championships in Florida next week.

“Just like that, everything you've ever worked for was just taken in a blink of an eye,” one of the devastated cheerleaders wrote on Twitter.

"This has been the worst week of my life," another wrote.

College President David DeCenzo received the letter that accused team members of prostitution, buying alcohol for underage students and paying others to do their homework.

The police are not involved, however an internal investigation saw cheerleaders phones searched before they were all returned to them.

On a newly created Twitter account, squad members adamantly rejected the “fake claims”.

The entire team was suspended once the anonymous letter emerged. Source: Facebook
The entire team was suspended once the anonymous letter emerged. Source: Facebook

“The false accusations have led to harassment on campus as well as through social media, and are beginning to negatively impact our daily lives as well as our studies,” the statement read.

“As a team we ask the community to support us through these tough times as we hope the situation will be cleared up shortly.

“At this point in time, we no longer wish to be contacted about the current situation.”

Parents of the cheerleaders also turned on the school, condemning their “hasty” decision to suspend the team so close to nationals.

“As a parent of a coastal Carolina cheerleader, I would like to state that the athletic director treats the cheerleaders unfairly,” LaCole Gadson wrote on Twitter.

“Less than a week away from competition and Coastal is stopping the girls from going with no valid reason.”