Twenty-six days after the NCAA released its report into Syracuse University, Rep. John Katko (R-Syracuse) released a statement calling for the NCAA to reconsider the sanctions imposed on SU.

The NCAA released a 94-page report on March 6 outlining violations including student-athletes receiving impermissible assistance from tutors and mentors, the university failing to comply with its own written drug policy and a lack of institutional control. Sanctions handed down on the university included a vacation of men’s basketball and football wins, and a loss of 12 men’s basketball scholarships over the next four years.

Katko condemned the loss of the scholarships in a letter sent to NCAA President Mark Emmert earlier this week and noted the importance of SU’s men’s basketball program to the central New York economy, according to the release.

In the letter, Katko also made note of the length of the investigation, which began in 2007 and expressed concern that the NCAA standards are not applied uniformly nationwide, according to the release.

“While I understand and agree that Syracuse University must take responsibility for any misconduct, the sanctions imposed by the NCAA do the most harm to students,” Katko said in the letter. “By barring opportunities for future student-athletes to receive a college degree, the NCAA directly contradicts its goal of promoting higher education opportunities for all students.”

Last month, Katko called for greater transparency from the NCAA and pledged to support efforts in Congress to make necessary changes to benefit student-athletes.

“Congress plays an important role in the oversight of higher education, and I share the NCAA’s goal of preventing the recurrence of events that led to the imposition of sanctions on Syracuse University,” Katko said in the letter. “But these harsh sanctions only harm innocent student-athletes and demean an incredibly loyal and successful coach.”

A call to Katko’s office was not immediately returned.

Published on April 1, 2015 at 4:07 pm

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306