The state’s Board of Regents said Monday that it is aware of an ongoing investigation related to allegations of online sports gambling by athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which would be a violation of NCAA rules.

“The Board of Regents and the universities will fully cooperate with any investigations related to these concerns,” the Regents told the Des Moines Register in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the situation and have confidence that university administrators at each institution will take all necessary steps to ensure ongoing compliance.”

The University of Iowa said in a Monday-afternoon statement that 111 individuals had been flagged in the investigation, including 26 student-athletes in baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field and wrestling, plus one full-time employee in the UI athletics department.

“The vast majority of the individuals are student-staff, former student-athletes or those with no connection to UI athletics,” the school said, adding that no coaches or former coaches were involved.

“We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.”

According the UI, leadership was first notified on May 2 of “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering” and possible NCAA violations. On Thursday, it received a list of individuals “alleged to have participated in sports wagering.” On Friday, it alerted those student-athletes that they would not be allowed to compete in upcoming competitions.

Speculation about the sports-wagering investigation began to swirl publicly that day, when four Iowa baseball players were mysteriously missing from the dugout for a weekend series against Ohio State. That list included Keaton Anthony, the best offensive player on a Rick Heller Hawkeye team that is positioned for the program’s first NCAA regional bid since 2017. In a Friday statement, the UI said, “Due to a potential NCAA violation, we withheld some student-athletes from competition.”

In response to a Des Moines Register e-mail request for information, Brian Ohorilko of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission replied, “There is an ongoing investigation into these matters, and we are unable to comment further at this time. The Commission takes the integrity of gaming in the state seriously and is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide any additional information when able.”

Iowa State confirmed that “approximately 15” student-athletes from football, wrestling and track and field may have violated NCAA rules.

“Iowa State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling and track & field in violation of NCAA rules. The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues,” the ISU statement said.

When asked if Iowa State student-athletes had been suspended, Iowa State senior associate athletics director Nick Joos told the Register: “It’s an ongoing process, and until it is complete, we can’t comment further.”

Sports gambling or providing gambling related information is prohibited by NCAA athletes or coaches. Recently, Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired after allegations that he provided gambling information to a bettor in Ohio about a series against LSU.

According to the NCAA website, “NCAA rules prohibit participation in sports wagering activities and from providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition. Sports wagering has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardizes the well-being of student-athletes and the intercollegiate athletics community. It also demeans the competition and competitors alike by spreading a message that is contrary to the purpose and meaning of ‘sport.’”

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Athletes at Iowa, Iowa State investigated for possible sports gambling