Discipline Committee Members:
Patricia Murray, Athletic Director, York University - Chair
Coleen Dufresne, Athletic Director, University of Manitoba
Sandy Slavin, Athletic Director, University of Lethbridge
Liz Hoffman, Athletic Director, University of Toronto
Bob Dubeau, Athletic Director, McGill University
Clint Hamilton, Athletic Director, University of New Brunswick

PROCESS:
In accordance with Section 90.40 - Conduct and Enforcement: Complaints, Investigation and Discipline Policy of the 2002 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Policies and Procedures, the CIS Discipline Committee determined on January 9 that Memorial University of Newfoundland ("Memorial") was in breach of CIS Regulation 40.10.3.3.4, specifically with respect to the participation of an ineligible men's soccer player for five conference competitions on September 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15, 2002.

DETAILS:

• An ineligible student-athlete, Victor Dray, participated with the Memorial men's soccer team for five conference competitions, inclusive of September 7-8 and September 13-15.



• The student-athlete was ineligible as a result of not having completed the CIS required number of courses in academic year 2001-2002 (CIS Regulation 40.10.3.3.4).



• The student-athlete's academic transcript was initially reviewed and verified as satisfying CIS academic standing requirements by representatives of the Memorial Athletic Department on September 6.



• As part of Memorial's eligibility verification system, a representative within the Registrar's Office reviews the academic transcripts of all Memorial student-athletes on each team's roster a second time, which in this instance for men's soccer was completed on September 16.



• It was as a result of this second review by the Registrar's Office that the student-athlete was determined to be ineligible; specifically, although the student-athlete had completed more than the CIS required number of courses to be eligible, two of those courses were "non-credit" courses, resulting in his ineligibility for CIS participation.



• For information, Memorial subsequently submitted a compassionate appeal on behalf of the student-athlete to waive CIS Regulation 40.10.3.3.4, which was upheld by the CIS Eligibility Committee on September 25.

IT IS DETERMINED THAT:

1. The Memorial Athletic Department erred in its initial assessment of the student-athlete's transcript, such that it was misinterpreted as indicating the student-athlete had satisfied CIS academic standing requirements in academic year 2001-2002.



2. The Memorial Athletic Department athlete verification system for returning student-athletes requires enhancements to improve an inherent shortcoming that does not sufficiently monitor the academic standing of student-athletes upon conclusion of either the fall or winter terms.



3. The student-athlete was an unwitting participant in the breach and did not deliberately seek to circumvent CIS Eligibility Rules.

THE FOLLOWING SANCTIONS ARE IMPOSED:

1. Memorial is hereby fined in the amount of $1,000 for the errors that led to the breach of CIS regulations, payable by February 24, 2003;



2. Memorial shall undertake such procedural, structural or other changes as may be required to minimize the chance of future violations, and shall provide a progress report regarding its efforts to the CIS by February 24, 2003;



3. Memorial shall pay to the CIS its costs of these proceedings within 30 days of being provided with an accounting thereof.

The CIS Discipline Committee notes that Memorial has cooperated fully in the investigation of this breach.

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