WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Jordan, an influential House conservative, denied claims Tuesday that he knew about alleged sexual abuse of wrestlers at Ohio State University three decades ago and failed to act.

Jordan, R-Ohio, responded after two former Ohio State wrestlers told NBC News that he must have known about abuse allegations against Richard Strauss, a former doctor in Ohio State’s athletics department. Jordan served as assistant wrestling coach at the university from 1987 to 1995.

“Congressman Jordan never saw any abuse, never heard about any abuse, and never had any abuse reported to him during his time as a coach at Ohio State,” Ian Fury, a spokesman for Jordan, said in a statement. “He has not been contacted by investigators about the matter but will assist them in any way they ask, because if what is alleged is true, the victims deserve a full investigation and justice.”

The allegations come at a critical time for Jordan, whom conservative outside groups have endorsed as a possible replacement for Speaker Paul Ryan, who is not running for re-election.

Jordan, who served in the Ohio Legislature, was elected to the House in 2006 and is a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Jordan has denied that he knew about allegations of abuse by Strauss, who joined Ohio State’s clinical faculty in 1978 and served as a team physician in the athletics department from 1981 to 1995 before retiring in 1998. Strauss is alleged to have abused male athletes participating in 14 sports, as well as patients at the student health center, where he was a part-time physician between 1994 and 1996. He died in 2005.

Former wrestlers have said the team doctor showered with students and inappropriately touched them during appointments. In a video shared with NBC, former wrestling coach Russ Hellickson said he confronted Strauss and told school officials.

Former Ohio State wrestler Mike DiSabato told NBC News that Jordan is a “liar” for saying he did not know about the alleged abuse.

Another former wrestler, Dunyasha Yetts, told NBC that he and other students reported Strauss’ alleged behavior to Jordan. “They went in and talked to Strauss. ... So it’s sad for me to hear that he’s denying knowing about Strauss,” Yetts said.