Former Adidas Execs, Agent Want Corruption Charges Dropped in FBI Probe

Former Adidas executives James Gatto and Merl Code and former sports agent Christian Dawkins will seek to have their federal corruption charges dropped Thursday in a New York district court. 

Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reported the three will argue the accusations made in federal documents do not constitute a crime. Gatto, Code and Dawkins are accused of funneling money from Adidas to recruits in exchange for them signing with Adidas-sponsored schools and continuing with the company once they become professionals.

The three men have been charged with wire fraud. They're accused of sending $100,000 to the father of 5-star forward Brian Bowen, ensuring he would sign with Louisville. The controversy resulted in the firing of head coach Rick Pitino.

Bowen left Louisville and was admitted to South Carolina in January. The school is planning on him being eligible for next season.

Representatives for Gatto, Code and Dawkins have also filed a motion looking to prevent conversations captured on an FBI wiretap being used as evidence. They are claiming, among other things, that the paperwork filed to obtain those taps was improper.