NCAA athletes na sangkot sa illegal na gawain sisipain

Hindi magdadalawang isip si NCAA Policy Board president, Fr. Edwin Lao, OP ng host Letran College na i-ban ang sinumang mapapatunayang atleta o opisyal na sangkot sa mga illegal na gawain sa kasalu-kuyang imbestigasyong isinasagawa ng National Bureau of Investigation.

"Walang pagkakaiba ang behavior ng isang ath-lete, kung may mapapatunayan man, in using pro-hibited drugs. They will be banned from participating in the NCAA and probably expelled from their respectively schools," ani Lao na naging panauhin sa PSA Forum sa Pantalan Restaurant kasama sina Fr. Vic Calvo, OP ng Letran at Bernie Atienza ng College of St. Benilde, chairman at vice chairman ng NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM), ayon sa pagkakasunod.

"We are aware of the effects of our actions. But the NCAA is willing to face the consequences. We are an educational institution and we want to improve and develop our athletes, who by the way are also students," dagdag ni Lao. "And if there is gambling, the possibility is endless that there could also be cheating."

Limang NBI agents ang nag-oobserba sa mga ilang pinagsususpetsahang indibidwal na maaaring sangkot sa game-fixing ngunit ayaw nilang ihayag sa media kung sinu-sino ang mga ito.

"We took this initiative but we’re not saying that our athletes are involved on game fixing. Just like when we conducted drug testing before the season started, we’re not saying that our athletes are drug addicts. Nobody tested positive. Same thing here, we just want to put everything in order," sabi ni Calvo. (Ulat ni CVOchoa)