If you play sports, either in college or in the pros, you are not allowed to gamble on sporting events. Regardless of whether you bet on games that you take part in or not, gambling is not permitted because it threatens the integrity of sports. And three players on the UTEP basketball team—including the program's leading scorer—are, unfortunately, finding that out the hard way today.
This afternoon, UTEP announced that star McKenzie Moore (pictured above) and reserves Jalen Ragland and Justin Crosgile have all been dismissed from the team as a result of an FBI investigation into them gambling on sports. The good news is that, following the FBI's investigation, Moore, Ragland, and Crosgile were not found to have been involved in point shaving, which could have gotten them and UTEP into even more trouble. But because of the seriousness of their violations, all three players were handed year-long suspensions by the NCAA and stripped of a year of eligibility. And because all three players are currently juniors, that means that all three are now out of eligibility and will not be allowed to play college basketball again.
As we mentioned, this story could have been way worse for the players and UTEP if any evidence of point shaving had been discovered. But even without any point-shaving allegations, this situation will obviously cast a dark cloud over the UTEP program and the players involved. What a bad way to end your college career.
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[via ESPN]
