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Notre Dame’s athletics department on Thursday banned its men’s swimming team for one year for violating NCAA and the school’s sports gambling rules.
An internal investigation led by a private law firm concluded that a majority of the men’s swimmers on the Fighting Irish’s varsity team participated in an illegal betting pool. Investigators determined that the team engaged in wagering amongst themselves, and commonly bet on their individual performances and meet outcomes.
In order to ensure that this behavior ends and to rebuild a culture of dignity, respect, and exemplary conduct, we have decided to suspend the men’s swimming program for at least one academic year,” said Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes from participating in sports betting, regardless of whether it’s through legal sportsbooks in regulated sports betting states or through an offshore operator. College players are additionally banned from participating in betting pools and other social betting activities like Super Bowl squares.
There was no proof that any members of the women’s or diving teams partook in the betting.
Coaches Unaware
The Notre Dame probe didn’t turn up any evidence that men’s swimming coach Chris Lindauer was aware of the team’s betting activities. The investigators reported that no one on Lindauer’s staff was also in on the game.
“The review found that the staff was not aware of gambling or the scope and extent of other troubling behaviors because team members effectively concealed such behaviors from the coaches and staff through concerted efforts,” Bevacqua said. “According to the review, when the staff became aware of certain isolated incidents of unacceptable conduct, they treated them seriously and professionally.”
Lindauer only recently returned from Paris where he was an assistant coach for USA Swimming and helped his Fighting Irish swimmer Chris Guiliano win a gold medal as part of the men’s 400-meter freestyle relay team. The Notre Dame athletics department said Guiliano was among the minority on the Fighting Irish team who did not engage in the betting ring.
Bevacqua became Notre Dame’s athletics director in June 2023. He previously served as chair of NBC Sports and the CEO of the PGA of America
Costly Outcome
Notre Dame’s decision to ban its men’s swimming team for one year comes with detrimental costs. The Fighting Irish finished the 2023-24 season ranked 11th in the nation and was expected to compete for a national title this winter with seven incoming transfers.
With the team banned from competition for a year, NCAA rules allow players to transfer out of Notre Dame. However, any forthcoming suspension the NCAA places on individuals for participating in the betting pool would follow them to their new school.
The NCAA is reviewing Notre Dame’s men’s swimming ban and working with school officials to determine if specific player suspensions are warranted.
“The national office is aware that Notre Dame has declared several student-athletes ineligible in light of potential violations of sports betting rules,” an NCAA spokesperson told the media. “We continue to work with the school as it determines what occurred. The NCAA does not comment on specific eligibility cases due to student privacy laws, and we have no further comment at this time.”
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