DURHAM, N.C. ? A Duke University committee recommended Monday that the school’s lacrosse team resume play next season, but said the team needed strict monitoring because of a history of problems tied to alcohol.

“Although the pattern of misconduct in recent years by the lacrosse team is alarming, the evidence reviewed … does not warrant suspension of the sport,” a committee of seven faculty members wrote in a report.

Duke suspended the highly ranked lacrosse team from play last month, following allegations that a black woman was raped and beaten by three white men at a team party where she had been hired to strip.

A grand jury has indicted two players on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual assault, and District Attorney Mike Nifong has said he hoped to charge a third person.

The report released Monday night did not consider the rape allegations, but instead focused on the behavior of the team during the past five years.

It found that while the team performed well academically and athletically, “a large number of the members of the team have been socially irresponsible when under the influence of alcohol.”

“We looked closely but found no compelling evidence to support claims that these players are racist or have a record of sexual violence,” said Duke law professor James E. Coleman Jr., who led the committee.

The rape allegations led Duke to accept the resignation of coach Mike Pressler and begin several internal investigations, including the examination of the lacrosse program.

The two players charged have been released on $400,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court May 15.

The report was released the same day one suspect’s attorney, Kirk Osborn, demanded Nifong’s removal from the case, accusing him of using it to help his election prospects. Nifong faces a primary election Tuesday that could decide whether he remains in office.

“They don’t want to go up against me,” Nifong said when asked outside court Monday about the defense request for his removal. He has denied any political motivation behind his investigation.

In a statement released with the report, Duke President Richard Brodhead did not offer an opinion on the panel’s recommendation, saying only that the report will “give us useful information as we consider the future of men’s lacrosse at Duke in the weeks ahead.”