FAMU Athletic Director Announces Sanctions for NCAA Violations

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Athletic Director Milton Overton, today, announced self-imposed penalties and other sanctions due to the identification of violations of secondary NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) rules during previous academic years.

After an internal investigation by the University and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and a joint investigation by FAMU and the NCAA, FAMU self-reported findings of violations to the NCAA Infraction Committee regarding the Athletics Department’s failure, in previous years, to properly administer general student-athlete eligibility and playing season requirements between the 2010-2011 and 2013-2014 academic years, in addition to financial aid requirements during the summer of 2013.

hese specific violations include (1) student-athletes not completing drug testing forms, (2) student-athletes failing to complete a medical examination within the required time frame, (3) the Department of Athletics failing to provide a number of student athletes with the proper written notification before the reduction of their athletic aid, and (4) the Department failing to monitor appropriately the administration of eligibility and playing season requirements.

FAMU self-imposed a three-year probation and annual compliance reporting to the NCAA on its athletics program. While the NCAA has not made its official announcement on the findings, a final disposition is expected to include an additional one-year probation based on the fact that these specific violations were determined to be systemic and recurring in that they were identified in the 2006 NCAA report.

CONTINUE READING