Iowa, Iowa State athletics investigated for sports gambling

The Iowa and Iowa State athletic departments each released statements late Monday afternoon, detailing that with the help of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, were notified that numerous student athletes were alleged to have made wagers on sports.

Iowa State’s statement that was sent a 4:20 PM on Monday afternoon stated: “Iowa State University and it’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling and track & field in violation of NCAA rules. The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve there issues.

The University of Iowa released their statement just a half hour later, stating that 111 current and former student-athletes, as well as a full-time UI athletics employee, were alleged to have made sports wagers. Currently, 26 of those 111 currently compete for the University of Iowa in baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field and wrestling.

The head of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Brian Ohorilko, released a statement on Tuesday morning stating: “No information of any suspicious wagering activity involving Iowa or Iowa State games. Hasn’t been anything to raise integrity doubts. No evidence at this time of match-fixing or point-shaving. We (Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission) review wagers that come in and how suspicious they are. We have had integrity alerts in the past. LSU vs Alabama baseball last week was one. We’ve had UFC integrity alerts. We have had none for Iowa or Iowa State markets (games). There are no Iowa or Iowa State athletic events scheduled to be banned or halted.”

The investigations at Iowa and Iowa State are currently ongoing.