U SPORTS sanctions Saint Mary's University for football eligibility violations
(HALIFAX, N.S.) – U SPORTS has ruled on self-disclosed eligibility violations by Saint Mary's University. The violations occurred during the 2017 football season.
Saint Mary's University student-athletes participated in two games while ineligible in accordance with U SPORTS regulation 40.10.5.1 (CEGEP eligibility), specifically with respect to the participation of football players in one regular season and one pre-season game (August 25 vs. St. Francis Xavier University and August 19 vs. Acadia University) who had not regained academic eligibility following participation in CEGEP football.
Under U SPORTS Policy 90.30.4.11, this has been classified as a Level 2 infraction. The following sanctions, which are not subject to appeal, have been imposed:
- Saint Mary's University forfeits all games in which the ineligible players participated. Saint Mary's University has thus far compiled a regular season record of 5-0. That record will be changed to 4 wins and 1 loss. The August 25 game will be credited as a win to the opposing team (StFX) with an official score of 1-0. A note reading, "Saint Mary's University forfeits one regular season win vs. StFX (as well as one pre-season win vs. Acadia) due to use of ineligible players," will accompany the official 2017 AUS football standings. All game statistics remain intact, except for the removal of any statistics credited to the ineligible player.
- Saint Mary's University has been fined by U SPORTS and will be placed on probation for a period of 18 months, during which time the university may continue to participate in AUS and U SPORTS competition, but will be subject to a higher level of sanctions if another violation occurs.
The revised official Atlantic University Sport standings for the 2017 football season, prior to the October 7 games are as follows:
|
|
GP |
W |
L |
PF |
PA |
PTS |
|
Saint Mary's* |
5 |
4 |
1 |
106 |
79 |
8 |
|
Acadia |
5 |
3 |
2 |
131 |
129 |
6 |
|
StFX |
5 |
3 |
2 |
120 |
87 |
6 |
|
Mount Allison |
5 |
1 |
4 |
135 |
152 |
2 |
|
Bishop's |
4 |
1 |
3 |
90 |
135 |
2 |
*Saint Mary's University forfeits one regular season win vs. StFX (as well as one pre-season win vs. Acadia) due to use of ineligible players.
Atlantic University Sport will not be imposing any additional sanctions on Saint Mary's University as part of a harmonized discipline program with U SPORTS.
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