The NCAA announced Wednesday that it will advocate for states to implement sports betting laws and regulations that preserve competitive integrity and protect athletes from harassment. The organization also said it will reconsider its penalty structure for sports wagering violations.'
College sports fans, including many in Iowa, will be particularly interested in how the new penalties might shake out. The University of Iowa and Iowa State each had athletes impacted, including Iowa football’s Noah Shannon, a standout defensive end who was suspended for the entire season. Shannon is not believed to have wagered on Iowa football games.
“We continue to put student-athlete well-being front and center in the Association’s efforts around sports wagering, including this week’s action related to reconsideration of penalties that members believe have been overly punitive to student-athletes,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a press release. “This is an important step toward modernizing the NCAA’s approach to sports wagering.”
Possible changes to punishments
The NCAA says it’s focusing most on the possible reduction of penalties for student-athletes who commit violations without betting on their own teams or games.