Syracuse Basketball: Report Claims School Violated Internal Drug Policy

Syracuse basketball again finds itself embroiled in a potential scandal, according to a report from Charles Robinson and Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports. This one involves positive drug tests and letting ineligible players on the court, thereby violating its own drug policy.

The report states that four sources said that "at least 10 players since 2001 have tested positive for a banned recreational substance or substances." The players "were allowed to practice and play when they should have been suspended by the athletic department."

Forde and Robinson contacted Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim for comment, but he wasn't offering up any information. 

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Asked if he had any knowledge of an NCAA investigation, Boeheim again declined comment.

“Obviously, I’m not going to talk about anything at all,” he said.

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What It Means

The NCAA will look into the matter, which could lead to sanctions against the Syracuse basketball program and the administrators that failed to act on its own rules. 

In the report, it says that if Syracuse knowingly violated its own policy, the NCAA could bypass the statute of limitations with the "Willful Violators" clause. 

At this stage, the only information we have is what Forde and Robinson have reported. 

What Happens Next?

Syracuse will have to prepare for the Big East and NCAA tournaments with these questions hanging over its head. Coach Boeheim will no doubt asked about it repeatedly during his first press conference. 

The NCAA will take a look at the information at hand, then decide whether to pursue an investigation into the matter. 

Things have not been going well for the program lately, and this is just the latest incident that will follow Syracuse around. 

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