IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa announced Monday that 26 athletes across five sports are suspected of wagering on sports in violation of NCAA rules, and more than 100 people have been linked to an investigation.
In addition, Iowa State acknowledged that some 15 of its athletes across three sports also are suspected of violating gambling rules.
The announcements came less than a week after Alabama fired its baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, following a report of suspicious bets made at an Ohio casino involving his team.
NCAA rules prohibit athletes, coaches and staff from betting on amateur, collegiate and professional sports in which the NCAA conducts a championship. For example, athletes cannot bet on NFL games even if state laws would legally allow them to do so if they weren’t competing under NCAA rules.
"What we don't know is...how they found out and what the penalties are," said Lee Sterling, President of Paramount Sports. "It could range anywhere from a one game suspension or a few games suspensions to a season."
It was not known whether any of the athletes are suspected of making wagers on contests in which they participated.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission confirmed to the Action Network, a media outlet focusing on sports wagering, that it had opened an investigation into Iowa Hawkeyes baseball players’ suspected involvement in wagering.
“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,” Brian Ohorilko, the director of gaming for the commission, told the outlet.