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The University of Notre Dame has decided to suspend its men’s swimming program for a minimum of one year following a gambling scandal. A statement released on the college website by University Vice President James E. Rohr and Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua revealed that the college had enlisted the services of the law firm Ropes & Gray LLP after becoming aware of potential issues earlier in the year.
“The external review confirmed and expanded on our initial concerns about a deeply embedded team culture dismissive of Notre Dame’s standards for student-athletes, including our expectation that they treat one another with dignity and respect,” the statement said.
“This independent, external review also documented numerous violations of NCAA rules prohibiting gambling on intercollegiate swimming and other athletic competitions,” the statement said.
“These findings are contrary to the University’s values,” the statement said.
“In order to ensure that this behavior ends and to rebuild a culture of dignity, respect, and exemplary conduct, we have decided to suspend the men’s swimming program for at least one academic year,” the statement said.
The statement said that “the overwhelming cultural dynamic on the team necessitates a full suspension.”
The statement said the coaching staff “was not aware of gambling or the scope and extent of other troubling behaviors because team members effectively concealed such behaviors from the coaches and staff through concerted efforts.”
The statement pointed out that employees with some knowledge of the situation initiated the process that resulted in the review.
The statement said that Notre Dame is serious about its “obligation to foster a community of student-athletes who not only compete and perform at the highest level academically and athletically, but whose conduct reflects the University’s values.”
“We hope this decision sends a clear and unequivocal message reaffirming that commitment and expectation,” the statement said.
According to Sports Illustrated, which cited sources it did not name, the men’s swimming team “effectively created its own sports book for the purpose of wagering on their swimming performances.”
“’Over/under’ lines were established for a swimmer’s times in certain races, with wagers being placed on the outcomes,” the report said.
The report indicated that the majority of swimmers who came back participated in the betting ring.
According to Sports Illustrated, the cultural concerns mentioned did not involve physical abuse.
Nonetheless, Sports Illustrated journalist Pat Forde stated on X that the program had “other ‘corrosive culture’ issues.”
The NCAA prohibits athletes from engaging in betting, with varying levels of penalties based on the size of the bets and whether an athlete placed bets on their own team and sport.
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