Louisville loses 2013 NCAA basketball title due to scandal

Louisville must vacate its 2013 men’s basketball title following an NCAA appeals panel’s decision to uphold sanctions against the men’s program in a sex-scandal case.

The Cardinals will have to vacate 123 victories including the championship, and return some US$600,000 in conference revenue from the 2012-15 NCAA tournaments.

The decision announced on Tuesday by the governing body’s Infraction Appeals Committee ruled the NCAA has the authority to take away championships for what it considers major rule violations. It also refuted Louisville’s position that the NCAA exceeded its boundaries and didn’t follow its own precedent and said in an eight-page decision that ended, “the penalties are upheld.”

“I cannot say this strongly enough: We believe the NCAA is simply wrong,” Louisville interim president Greg Postel said in a statement. “We disagree with the NCAA ruling for reasons we clearly stated in our appeal. And we made a strong case — based on NCAA precedent — that supported our argument.”

Louisville must forfeit its third NCAA title, victories and income from 2012-15, part of the time frame during which the violations occurred. The decision culminates the governing body’s investigation that followed allegations in a 2015 book by escort Katina Powell that former Cardinals basketball staffer Andre McGee hired her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits.

The school’s investigation into the allegation revealed violations occurred and resulted in a selfimposed post-season ban nearly two years ago. Louisville later imposed scholarship and recruiting restrictions.