BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has fined Jackson State University and Southern University $10,000 each for its men’s track teams’ involvement in an altercation during the 2009 SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men’s track teams at each university are hereby publicly reprimanded.
In addition, all medals earned prior to the teams’ disqualification have been returned. As stated on the final day of competition, all finishers and scores by both teams were deleted, and all other finishers from other competing teams moved up in the standings.
Both teams are eligible to compete in next week’s 2009 SWAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Statement from SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp:
“The intolerable and regrettable altercation during our Indoor Track and Field Championships was one that the conference office takes very seriously. We expect our student athletes, coaches and everyone involved in our athletic programs to conduct themselves in a first-class manner on and off the fields of competition.
“Incidents of this nature and magnitude cut at the very core of collegiate athletics – sportsmanship. We will not accept this at any of our athletic competitions. We will continue to demand excellence from our student athletes in their academic and athletic endeavors and implore them to strive for greatness in competition with respect of their opponent.”
GOOD