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After Darren Rovell of the Action Network reported yesterday that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission had launched an investigation into the University of Iowa’s baseball team, the University of Iowa’s Office of Strategic Communication shared more information on the ongoing investigation.
Iowa’s Office of Strategic Communication said in its press release that it is “aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating.” UI’s Office of Strategic Communication noted that they have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and that they have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.
Per UI’s Office of Strategic Communication, the university has received information about 111 individuals in relation to the sports wagering investigation. That number includes 26 current Iowa student-athletes from baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and men’s wrestling. There is also one full-time employee of the UI Department of Athletics included in the investigation.
According to the UI Office of Strategic Communication, this list does not include any current or former coaches. The release also noted that “the vast majority of the individuals are student-staff, former student-athletes, or those with no connection to UI Athletics.”
The UI Office of Strategic Communication also released the timeline of events thus far in the investigation as follows:
May 2: University of Iowa leadership was notified of potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.
May 3: Law enforcement notified the university that additional information would be provided the following day.
May 4: The university received a list of individuals alleged to have participated in sports wagering.
May 5: The University of Iowa took the following action:
notified several student-athletes that they would not be participating in upcoming competitions; alerted the NCAA to potential violations; and engaged outside legal counsel to advise the university and potentially lead an investigation.
UI’s Office of Strategic Communication also shared this statement from the Board of Regents:
The Board of Regents is aware of concerns related to online gambling involving individuals associated with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The Board of Regents and the universities will fully cooperate with any investigations related to these concerns. We are closely monitoring the situation and have confidence that University administrators at each institution will take all necessary steps to ensure ongoing compliance. – UI Board of Regents.
Finally, the University of Iowa issued the following statement:
The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating. We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.
The athletics department provides education on NCAA rules regarding the the prohibition of sports wagering as well as the potential consequences.
Redshirt sophomore Keaton Anthony, the Hawkeyes’ leading hitter on the baseball team, was withheld from this past weekend’s series against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Other notable players withheld from action included right-handed pitcher Jacob Henderson, catcher Ben Tallman and catcher Gehrig Christensen.
The news of a gambling investigation concerning violation of NCAA rules at both Iowa and Iowa State University comes on the heels of a scandal in SEC country.
Former Alabama head baseball coach Brad Bohannon was recently fired after an investigation into suspicious betting activity following Alabama’s 8-6 loss against LSU on April 28.
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