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Question of the Week -- Would Removing the Restrictions on Compensating Amateur Athletes End Corruption in College Sports?

Posted  October 6, 2017

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Four NCAA assistant coaches, among others, faced federal indictments last week in a fraud and corruption scheme alleging a history of bribes to recruit amateur athletes. The coaches stand accused of accepting cash bribes in exchange for influencing college players to retain the services of various advisors paying the bribes. The FBI’s investigation, which has been ongoing since 2015, also implicates Adidas, whose employees allegedly paid high school players to encourage them to sign with schools sponsored by the athletic apparel company. Nike is also under federal scrutiny.

The response from media, the public, and the athletic community has been mixed, with some calling the charges a “ludicrous” display of “prosecutorial overreach.” The problem, according to some, lies with NCAA amateurism rules restricting college athletes’ ability to profit from their skills and labor. These restrictions, the argument goes, benefit the NCAA at players’ expense, and create the undercover market recently revealed by the Justice Department.

The debate over compensating athletes is not a new one. It has been percolating for years, litigated in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

What do you think? Would removing the restrictions on compensating amateur athletes end corruption in college sports?

Voting has been closed

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