Post by fbdoc on Jul 19, 2007 12:00:10 GMT -6
Sorry for the long article but anyone have a similar situation in their state? We used to play these guys...
Jupiter Christian School reprimanded, fined for violations in wrestling program
GAINESVILLE, FL – Jupiter Christian School has been penalized by the FHSAA for violations in the sport of wrestling.
The investigation, which initially centered around the activities of a Jupiter Christian School booster and his involvement with the school's wrestling program, was prompted by a New York Times article dated March 7, 2007. According to the article, the booster was under federal and state investigation by authorities examining an anti-aging business where steroids and human growth hormone were prescribed. A second investigation, involving the school's football program, was initiated due to a complaint filed by a member school.
On June 11, 2007, the FHSAA sent a letter of its findings to Jupiter Christian School. On June 26, 2007, the school submitted a 12-page response, which included proposed corrective measures and policies to govern its athletic program. On July 17, 2007, the FHSAA notified the school that it was accepting the proposed corrective measures, with the exception that the two-year period of administrative probation proposed by the school was extended to four years by the Association.
The FHSAA investigation found the following:
1. A transfer student-athlete and his father were provided a "special inducement" that was not made available to all students. The offer or acceptance of a residence with any person associated with a school is defined as an illegal inducement by the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting.
2. The same student-athlete was provided other "special inducements" prior to being a bona fide student at Jupiter Christian School, including traveling to St. Louis and the Bahamas with the family of the booster in question while he was still a bona fide student at another FHSAA-member high school. According to the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting, a student-athlete may not receive or be offered remunerations of any kind, or receive or be offered special inducements of any kind, which are not made available to all students who enroll in or apply to a school. A "bona fide student" is defined in FHSAA Bylaw 11.1.1 as "regularly enrolled and in regular attendance."
3. A Jupiter Christian School student-athlete who participated on the wrestling team submitted a fraudulent preparticipation physical evaluation form that had not been completed by a physician. A statement received from the physician confirmed that he had not administered the physical exam on this student-athlete. Furthermore, the box to be checked by the physician allowing the student-athlete to participate in athletics was not checked. This student was allowed to participate the entire 2006-07 wrestling season by Jupiter Christian School without being cleared to participate by a physician. FHSAA Bylaw 11.8.1 details the requirement that each student-athlete must go through an annual physical evaluation administered either by a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic physician, a licensed chiropractic physician or a certified advanced registered nurse practitioner, and is only valid for one calendar year from the date of the practitioner's signature.
4. Two student-athletes had contact with Jupiter Christian School coaches on outside teams prior to becoming bona fide students at the school. According to the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting, participation by a student in non-school athletics on a team that is affiliated with any school other than the school which the student attends, or attended the prior year, followed by that student's enrollment in the affiliated school, is considered prima facie evidence of recruiting by the school to which that student enrolled or that the student enrolled in that school in whole or in part for athletic reasons. Unless the school and student-athlete disproves the prima facie evidence of recruiting or presumption that the student's enrollment in the new school was due in whole or in part to athletic reasons to the Commissioner's satisfaction, the student is ineligible to represent that school in interscholastic athletic competition for a period of 365 consecutive days from the date of his or her enrollment at that school. FHSAA Bylaw 11.4.12 defines a team affiliated with a school as one that is organized and/or coached by any member of the coaching staff at, or any other person affiliated with, that school; and/or on which the majority of the members of the team – participants in practice and/or competition – are student who attend that school. Because the violation was never reported to the FHSAA, the Commissioner did not have a chance to determine if the prima facie evidence was sufficient to determine if the transfer was for athletic reasons.
The investigation found no evidence to support any allegation that the booster in question supplied any performance enhancing drugs to any student at Jupiter Christian School. Neither was any evidence found to substantiate any allegation that the two football players in question that transferred to Jupiter Christian School were recruited or did so for athletic reasons.
The school's response did not report any substantive evidence to refute any of the findings of the investigation. The school, however, did report corrective measures and policies instituted in light of the findings. These include:
1. The creation of a Jupiter Christian School Athletic Integrity Committee.
2. The hiring of an administrator to oversee the school's wrestling program.
3. An expansion of the state drug testing program to include 10 percent of student-athletes participating in varsity football, baseball, weightlifting and wrestling, and the distribution of educational information to student-athletes and their parents regarding the use of anabolic steroids.
4. The resignation of the head wrestling coach and one assistant coach.
5. A review of the school's admissions process to better document when a student applies and when he or she is accepted.
6. A careful examination of the involvement of all parents in any athletic program, if that parent is in a business industry that touches on any issue relative to performance enhancing supplements, that parent's involvement in any particular sport will be suspended, or so well documented as to eliminate the perception or influence of any inappropriate contact.
7. All parents who take trips with students who attend another high school or provide housing to students transferring to Jupiter Christian School must maintain documentation of full reimbursement, leasing arrangements, canceled checks, etc. The school will require that documentation be submitted for its review if the student subsequently transfers to Jupiter Christian School and participates in athletics.
8. Any wrestling club utilizing Jupiter Christian School's facilities cannot be owned, incorporated, managed or controlled, in whole or in part, by the booster in question or any affiliated entity. Any contributions to the school's wrestling program by the booster in question must be in check, not in cash or in-kind service or product. In addition, the school will deem any wrestler who travels with the family of the booster in question and later transfers to Jupiter Christian School automatically ineligible until his or her eligibility status is reviewed by the FHSAA.
9. Any wrestling coach or member of that coach's immediate family who is employed by a business that manufactures or distributes performance enhancing substances such as human growth hormone or steroids must step down from such coaching position immediately.
Due to the proactive measures taken by Jupiter Christian School, the penalties imposed were minimal in nature. They are:
1. Reprimand.
2. Jupiter Christian School's wrestling program is placed on administration probation through the conclusion of the 2010-11 school year. Administrative probation is a period of warning during which time additional violations may result in an extension of the probationary period, or the imposition of more severe penalties.
3. The school is fined $7,500.
4. The school is required to reimburse the Association for its expenses incurred during the investigation once they have been compiled.
FHSAA bylaws ensure the school's right to appeal the Commissioner's findings, as well as the penalties assessed. The school has 10 business days to notify in writing the FHSAA Office if it intends to file an appeal.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle and senior public and private high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
Jupiter Christian School reprimanded, fined for violations in wrestling program
GAINESVILLE, FL – Jupiter Christian School has been penalized by the FHSAA for violations in the sport of wrestling.
The investigation, which initially centered around the activities of a Jupiter Christian School booster and his involvement with the school's wrestling program, was prompted by a New York Times article dated March 7, 2007. According to the article, the booster was under federal and state investigation by authorities examining an anti-aging business where steroids and human growth hormone were prescribed. A second investigation, involving the school's football program, was initiated due to a complaint filed by a member school.
On June 11, 2007, the FHSAA sent a letter of its findings to Jupiter Christian School. On June 26, 2007, the school submitted a 12-page response, which included proposed corrective measures and policies to govern its athletic program. On July 17, 2007, the FHSAA notified the school that it was accepting the proposed corrective measures, with the exception that the two-year period of administrative probation proposed by the school was extended to four years by the Association.
The FHSAA investigation found the following:
1. A transfer student-athlete and his father were provided a "special inducement" that was not made available to all students. The offer or acceptance of a residence with any person associated with a school is defined as an illegal inducement by the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting.
2. The same student-athlete was provided other "special inducements" prior to being a bona fide student at Jupiter Christian School, including traveling to St. Louis and the Bahamas with the family of the booster in question while he was still a bona fide student at another FHSAA-member high school. According to the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting, a student-athlete may not receive or be offered remunerations of any kind, or receive or be offered special inducements of any kind, which are not made available to all students who enroll in or apply to a school. A "bona fide student" is defined in FHSAA Bylaw 11.1.1 as "regularly enrolled and in regular attendance."
3. A Jupiter Christian School student-athlete who participated on the wrestling team submitted a fraudulent preparticipation physical evaluation form that had not been completed by a physician. A statement received from the physician confirmed that he had not administered the physical exam on this student-athlete. Furthermore, the box to be checked by the physician allowing the student-athlete to participate in athletics was not checked. This student was allowed to participate the entire 2006-07 wrestling season by Jupiter Christian School without being cleared to participate by a physician. FHSAA Bylaw 11.8.1 details the requirement that each student-athlete must go through an annual physical evaluation administered either by a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic physician, a licensed chiropractic physician or a certified advanced registered nurse practitioner, and is only valid for one calendar year from the date of the practitioner's signature.
4. Two student-athletes had contact with Jupiter Christian School coaches on outside teams prior to becoming bona fide students at the school. According to the FHSAA Policy on Recruiting, participation by a student in non-school athletics on a team that is affiliated with any school other than the school which the student attends, or attended the prior year, followed by that student's enrollment in the affiliated school, is considered prima facie evidence of recruiting by the school to which that student enrolled or that the student enrolled in that school in whole or in part for athletic reasons. Unless the school and student-athlete disproves the prima facie evidence of recruiting or presumption that the student's enrollment in the new school was due in whole or in part to athletic reasons to the Commissioner's satisfaction, the student is ineligible to represent that school in interscholastic athletic competition for a period of 365 consecutive days from the date of his or her enrollment at that school. FHSAA Bylaw 11.4.12 defines a team affiliated with a school as one that is organized and/or coached by any member of the coaching staff at, or any other person affiliated with, that school; and/or on which the majority of the members of the team – participants in practice and/or competition – are student who attend that school. Because the violation was never reported to the FHSAA, the Commissioner did not have a chance to determine if the prima facie evidence was sufficient to determine if the transfer was for athletic reasons.
The investigation found no evidence to support any allegation that the booster in question supplied any performance enhancing drugs to any student at Jupiter Christian School. Neither was any evidence found to substantiate any allegation that the two football players in question that transferred to Jupiter Christian School were recruited or did so for athletic reasons.
The school's response did not report any substantive evidence to refute any of the findings of the investigation. The school, however, did report corrective measures and policies instituted in light of the findings. These include:
1. The creation of a Jupiter Christian School Athletic Integrity Committee.
2. The hiring of an administrator to oversee the school's wrestling program.
3. An expansion of the state drug testing program to include 10 percent of student-athletes participating in varsity football, baseball, weightlifting and wrestling, and the distribution of educational information to student-athletes and their parents regarding the use of anabolic steroids.
4. The resignation of the head wrestling coach and one assistant coach.
5. A review of the school's admissions process to better document when a student applies and when he or she is accepted.
6. A careful examination of the involvement of all parents in any athletic program, if that parent is in a business industry that touches on any issue relative to performance enhancing supplements, that parent's involvement in any particular sport will be suspended, or so well documented as to eliminate the perception or influence of any inappropriate contact.
7. All parents who take trips with students who attend another high school or provide housing to students transferring to Jupiter Christian School must maintain documentation of full reimbursement, leasing arrangements, canceled checks, etc. The school will require that documentation be submitted for its review if the student subsequently transfers to Jupiter Christian School and participates in athletics.
8. Any wrestling club utilizing Jupiter Christian School's facilities cannot be owned, incorporated, managed or controlled, in whole or in part, by the booster in question or any affiliated entity. Any contributions to the school's wrestling program by the booster in question must be in check, not in cash or in-kind service or product. In addition, the school will deem any wrestler who travels with the family of the booster in question and later transfers to Jupiter Christian School automatically ineligible until his or her eligibility status is reviewed by the FHSAA.
9. Any wrestling coach or member of that coach's immediate family who is employed by a business that manufactures or distributes performance enhancing substances such as human growth hormone or steroids must step down from such coaching position immediately.
Due to the proactive measures taken by Jupiter Christian School, the penalties imposed were minimal in nature. They are:
1. Reprimand.
2. Jupiter Christian School's wrestling program is placed on administration probation through the conclusion of the 2010-11 school year. Administrative probation is a period of warning during which time additional violations may result in an extension of the probationary period, or the imposition of more severe penalties.
3. The school is fined $7,500.
4. The school is required to reimburse the Association for its expenses incurred during the investigation once they have been compiled.
FHSAA bylaws ensure the school's right to appeal the Commissioner's findings, as well as the penalties assessed. The school has 10 business days to notify in writing the FHSAA Office if it intends to file an appeal.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 750 middle and senior public and private high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.
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