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Howard University Suspends All Athletic Programs

Howard University announced it has suspended its athletic program effective immediately.

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.


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