Dwight Howard Admits To Whipping His Son, Cleared Of Child Abuse

Add Dwight Howard to the list of recent athletes making headlines for the wrong reasons. According to TMZ, Howard is being investigated for whipping his six-year-old son with a belt. The Florida Department of Children and Families determined, via TMZ: “The investigation is being closed with no substantiated findings of physical injuries.”

Here are the details via TMZ:

Howard admitted to authorities he hit the kid but says he didn’t know it was wrong because that’s how he grew up.

TMZ Sports has obtained documents from the Dept. of Children and Families (DCF), summarizing the findings of the doctor who examined Braylon. It says, “Dr. Kesler noted Braylon to have a linear bruise and patterned abrasions consistent with the history given by Braylon of being struck with a belt numerous times by his father.”

The report goes on to say the injuries were “consistent with Braylon being struck with the buckle end of the belt … with excessive force, resulting in soft tissue injuries such as bruising and abrasions.”

And the report indicates Dr. Kesler found the injuries lasted longer than 24 hours and were “consistent with a medical diagnosis of physical abuse.”

And the doctor recommended that Howard participate in parenting classes and use methods other than corporal punishment to discipline his son.

[TMZ]