Report: Oregon waited to expel three basketball players to avoid sanctions

The Oregonian has reported that the Oregon Ducks and their basketball program delayed the expulsion of three basketball players accused of sexual assault to avoid NCAA sanctions.

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How exactly does that work? All NCAA teams must retain an Academic Progress Rate, or APR, to avoid sanctions on a program.

Oregon basketball players Damyean Dotson, Dominic Artis, and Brandon Austin were accused of sexual assault on March 9th, but were not dismissed from the team until May 9th, and were not expelled from the university until June 23rd.

So why the delay? Television station KATU alleges that it was to keep their APR up to the point where they would not receive sanctions, and so that the coaches and Athletic Director could receive bonuses for retaining an APR over a certain threshold. Head Coach Dana Altman received a bonus of $20,000, his assistants received $6,000 each, and Athletic Director Rob Mullens received a $40,000 bonus.

Artis and Dotson were still allowed to play in the NCAA tournament after the incident since Oregon claimed that the Eugene Police Department told them not to interfere with the investigation. The police department denies this claim.

KATU spoke with John Infante, who is a nationally recognized APR expert, on the effect that not expelling the players earlier had on the ranking. He stated “It would be helpful for their APR for them to remain in school and finish their coursework and then be dismissed or suspended at the end of the term.”

That appears to be just what Oregon did.

On Tuesday, the university sent out an email to Oregon Alumni and boosters denouncing most of the charged brought by KATU.

It is worth noting that the Lane County District Attorney did not file charges against the three players, but they were dismissed for conduct “unbecoming of an Oregon student-athlete.”

Artis and Austin have both been admitted to junior colleges to try and continue their basketball careers.