Shockers put on probation

By Aaron Graff, @Aarongraff_DE

Wichita State’s baseball team is on a one-year probation until Jan. 28, 2016.

The team received a $5,000 fine and must vacate all regular season and conference tournament wins, in which 21 players were ineligible.

From February 2012 to November 2013 the 21 players received impermissible benefits by ordering roughly $15,000 worth of apparel through an administrative assistant at a 50 percent discount.

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The NCAA decision states the assistant gave the athletes her log-on information to her VIP account. She complied with all the rules, and was never provided with adequate rules education, according to the decision.

According to a WSU athletic press release, the Shockers will appeal the NCAA taking away the wins. The release said WSU president John Bardo calls the probation and fine a fair penalty, but said it is unfair to tarnish the team’s achievements.

The WSU Athletics Department has changed its apparel and equipment policy to ensure that no athletes may interact with the manufacturers without the oversight of the equipment manager and sport supervisor.

To read the NCAA’s decision see: on.ncaa.com/15WwP7P.

Aaron Graff can be reached at [email protected] or at 536-3311 ext. 256.

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