Fresno State has suspended two athletes from its men’s basketball squad and dismissed another in the recent sports gambling controversy affecting college sports.
The NCAA and the university are reportedly investigating claims that two athletes, Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins, wagered on their own team's poor performance, while a third, Mykell Robinson, placed bets on professional games, breaching NCAA regulations, as per KFSN Action News.
Guards Weaver and Collins did not participate in the game against the Air Force Falcons on Saturday, while junior forward Robinson, who last competed on January 11, has been taken off the team’s roster.
Wagering on the Under
According to Action News sources, the accusation claims that Robinson and Weaver wagered that the Bulldogs would fall short on points and rebounds.
The channel states that the purported gambling was revealed by head coach Vance Wahlberg, who promptly informed the Fresno State administration.
The university has chosen not to comment on the issue; however, it issued a statement to The Fresno Bee on Saturday, stating that Weaver and Collins were being barred from competition as it assessed "an eligibility matter."
The Falcons triumphed 72-69 on Saturday. It’s the Bulldog’s tenth defeat in a row.
Weaver and Collins rank as the leading scorers on the team, with averages of 12.2 and 12 points per game this season, respectively. Robinson was recording an average of 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds each game.
Severe Outcomes
According to NCAA regulations, all individuals participating in college sports — such as athletes, coaches, and personnel — are not allowed to take part in gambling activities.
Breaking these regulations leads to athletes losing their eligibility for NCAA events. An athlete who wagers on teams other than their own risks a one-year suspension. Wagering on their own team, regardless of the outcome, will lead to a lifelong ban from the NCAA.
Yet, wagering on one’s own team could violate more than just NCAA regulations as it raises concerns about match-fixing, which might lead to criminal charges.
In July of the previous year, Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter admitted guilt to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud. This follows his discovery of intentionally underperforming in two matches to aid a New York-based betting syndicate with which he had incurred gambling debts.
Porter, who received a lifetime ban from the NBA, is set to face sentencing in May.