June, 1993 - Commissioner's Casebook
(O.C. Art I, Sec 5, 1.1.1)
A violation of the CCAA eligibility rules was committed by 2 members of a college soccer team prior to their participation in the national championships. The athletic director of the offending college completed a routine computer search of the academic status of all college athletes in November after the team returned from the CCAA Soccer Championships. He found that 2 soccer team members had each withdrawn from one course thereby reducing their credit load to 6 which changed their academic status from full to part time students. These 2 players had represented the college at the national soccer championships at which time they were in fact ineligible to compete. It was determined by the athletic director that the coach was unaware of the situation. Although both athletes were somewhat aware of the implications of their action (they admitted they were aware that it would affect their scholarship eligibility for the next year) they did not realize the change in their academic status would jeopardize the team’s eligibility standing at the national championships.
RULING:
The offending college was stripped of the silver medal by the CCAA for using ineligible players and was assessed a monetary penalty. The CCAA stripped the team of its tournament All-Star Awards and All-Canadian Awards for their violation.
(1992-93, Lavery) |