Auburn's Ira Bowman Suspended Indefinitely After Link to NCAA Bribery Scandal

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Auburn has suspended assistant basketball coach Ira Bowman indefinitely due to his alleged involvement with a bribery scandal during his time at Penn, according to Brandon Marcello of 247Sports. 

"As we continue to gather information regarding a situation that recently arose, it is important that we be thorough and proactive, yet prudent and cautious," Auburn athletics said in a statement Wednesday. "Therefore, Ira Bowman will not coach or participate in any responsibilities with the men’s basketball program until we fully assess all the issues."

Auburn is set to begin its run in the SEC tournament Thursday, but Bowman will not be on the bench.

The decision follows the testimony of former Penn head coach Jerome Allen, who admitted that he took about $300,000 in bribes to help a Florida businessman get his son into the school using a priority basketball slot, according to Mike Jensen of Philly.com.

The former coach also said that Bowman had been made aware of the scheme and became more involved after Allen was let go.

Bowman remained with the Quakers until he was hired by the Tigers last summer.

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"We are aware of the reports that are out there and currently were and our administration are gathering facts, and until we know more it would be premature for me to comment further, so therefore I will not be answering questions regarding this," head coach Bruce Pearl said of the situation Tuesday.

Although Auburn has not been implicated in this scandal, it is more negative news for its coaching staff after former assistant Chuck Person was arrested for allegedly taking bribes from a financial adviser.