Wednesday, November 5, 2014

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The University of Alaska Fairbanks has  received notice from the National Collegiate Athletics Association of penalties stemming from a series of eligibility infractions spanning the 2007-2008 through 2011-2012 academic years.

Penalties include three years of probation; a 2014-15 postseason ban for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and women’s swimming; scholarship reductions; and a $30,000 fine.

In addition the men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s basketball teams must vacate all wins in which ineligible student-athletes participated, and the women’s skiing and women’s swimming teams must vacate points scored during competitions by ineligible student-athletes.

The postseason ban will include participation in the GNAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships next March in Billings, Mont.

The university discovered the infractions in 2011 and 2012 and self-reported them to the NCAA at the time, in addition to imposing some self-penalties. These new penalties include some of those self-sanctions.

These infractions were due to the university’s failure to establish and maintain adequate systems to ensure that NCAA eligibility was being performed correctly. They are not the result of any wrongdoing by student-athletes.

Since these infractions were first reported, UAF has worked to completely overhaul its eligibility process and controls.