| | Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The NCAA on Wednesday affirmed its six-game
suspension of Arizona senior center Loren Woods for accepting money
from a family friend last month.
Woods and school officials had appealed the NCAA decision, which
came down Saturday as the top-ranked Wildcats were heading to
Hawaii to open their season at the Maui Classic.
The 7-foot-1 Woods, who set an NCAA record with 14 blocked shots
against Oregon before missing the latter part of last season with a
back injury that required two surgeries, will not be able to play
for Arizona until Dec. 9 against Connecticut.
"I'm extremely disappointed at the inability of the NCAA to
look at the welfare of the student-athlete in this case," said
Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood. "This penalty just
doesn't fit the specifics of Loren's situation."
Woods, who grew up in St. Louis and transferred to Arizona from
Wake Forest in 1998, reportedly has had a unnamed "mentor, advisor
and family friend" who has given him financial support since high
school.
In a statement, Arizona officials said Woods' friend "provided
Loren with meals, transportation and small amounts of money,
sometimes in the form of a regular allowance" and "these ongoing
financial contributions did not violate NCAA rules.
School officials said Woods "suffered a difficult spring and
summer as a result of health and family issues" and "the family
friend felt that providing additional money to Loren would be
appropriate under the circumstances."
The friend reportedly gave Woods money twice in September that
"were bigger than the permissible gifts," according to school
officials who did not specify the dollar amount.
The university learned of the larger contributions in early
November and immediately notified the NCAA, seeking guidance
regarding interpretation of rules relating to permissible gifts,
school officials said.
They said Woods must repay the money given him by his friend last
month as part of the NCAA sanction. | |
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