Obama defines rape when asked about Bill Cosby allegations

Barack Obama has rejected the idea of revoking Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom because of sexual misconduct allegations.

The US President said there is no precedent or mechanism to take it back.

His comments came as a sexual assault awareness group petitioned the White House to revoke the medal awarded to Mr Cosby by President Bush in 2002.

Mr Obama declined to talk about the specific allegations against Mr Cosby because there are pending legal matters.

But at a presidential news conference, he left no question about his position on the larger issue of rape.

He said that drugging someone and having sex with them without consent qualifies as rape.

Court documents have revealed that Mr Cosby admitted under oath that he obtained Quaaludes, a sedative drug, to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex.

Dozens of women have come forward in the past year claiming that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them in alleged incidents dating back decades.

Cosby has never been charged over the allegations but has seen a number of TV projects and shows cancelled in recent months.