The Washington, D.C. university has not provided details of its decision, but many point to the school’s investigation into possible NCAA violations.
Howard University announced that the school will suspend all activities of its athletic teams beginning immediately. The suspension appears to be a response to violations of NCAA rules.
“It is with great regret that we have temporarily suspended intercollegiate athletic competition,” said Kerry-Ann Hamilton, a Howard University spokeswoman.
“This is a self-imposed action while the university conducts a review,” she said. “We are working quickly to resolve this issue.”
Howard University is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The school has 17 athletics teams, including six spring programs that are in season and immediately affected by the suspension: men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, softball and women's lacrosse.
Howard University is a federally charted, historically Black school located in Washington, D.C. The suspension of athletic activity is nothing short of a jolt to the campus, where sports are heavily followed and supported.
The university did not provide details for its decision. But the Washington City Paper reported that a senior athletic administrator indicated that the university is investigating possible violation of NCAA rules relating to athletes who had been given textbook vouchers.
The administrator said that the university allowed athletes to spend the funds that were unused on books for anything they wished, which is a possible violation of NCAA rules.
BET Sports News - Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes.
Videos You May Like
-
News Exclusives: Wade Davis Fights... Clip (7/18/2012)
-
News Exclusives: The singer thanks... Clip (7/16/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Tamron Hall on Fight... Clip (7/13/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Venus Williams... Clip (7/13/2012)
-
News Exclusives: President Obama... Clip (7/11/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Obama Resources... Clip (7/2/2012)
-
News Brief Exclusives: Leaders React to... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: NABJ Takes On Voting... Clip (6/27/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Trayvon's Family... Clip (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Washington Stalemate... Web Original (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: President Obama... Web Original (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Vice President Joe... Clip (6/21/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Does the Adidas... Clip (6/20/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Wade Davis Fights... Clip (6/15/2012)
(Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
On Facebook
On Twitter
