US college sports body permanently bans six basketball players for betting violations

By Simgenur Akbolat

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said Friday it permanently banned six former college men's basketball players from competition for involvement in betting-related game manipulation and providing investigators with false information.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions released three separate decisions following enforcement investigations at the University of New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State, and Arizona State.

The organization said the cases were not directly related but violations in each case involved student-athletes providing information to known bettors, as well as game manipulation related to sports betting.

"As a result of the sports betting violations, the student-athletes all violated ethical conduct rules, triggering permanent ineligibility," the NCAA said.

It added that all three cases involved student-athletes who "knowingly provided false or misleading information to investigators," demonstrating lack of cooperation.

The cases were resolved through negotiated agreements with the respective universities. While the Committee on Infractions does not assess penalties for student-athletes who violate rules, it approved findings confirming the violations occurred.

- Broader gambling scandal

The bans follow the NCAA's September announcement uncovering sports betting-related game manipulation by three Division I, highest division of intercollegiate athletics in the US, men's basketball players whose eligibility was also permanently revoked.

The college sports violations come amid a wider gambling scandal in professional basketball. In October, US authorities charged current and former NBA players and coaches in two major fraud cases involving insider betting conspiracies and illegal gambling operations backed by organized crime families.

Defendants included former NBA player and coach Damon Jones, current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups.