NCAA- The University and Iowa and Iowa State University have been under scrutiny after school officials suspected a total of 41 student-athletes violated the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) gambling rules. As it stands, as of the date of this article, seven current or former athletes have been criminally charged. This article will outline who has been accused so far.
Iowa State’s expected starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers was charged in Story County after allegedly betting on 26 Cyclone sporting events while under the age of 21.
Other current Cyclone athletes who have been charged include Paniro Johnson, a sophomore wrestler, and Dodge Sauser, a sophomore football player. Johnson was accused of placing about 1,283 online bets with 25 wagers on Iowa State sporting events. Allegedly, Sauser made around 113 online bets with 12 bets on Iowa State football games.
A former Cyclones player was also charged in Eyioma Uwazurike, who was recently suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. In college, the records allege that he wagered 801 times online including four bets on Iowa State football games.
For the Hawkeyes, Aaron Blom, the backup kicker and punter, is facing charges for allegedly betting on approximately eight Iowa events and around 170 total sporting events.
Ahron Ulis transferred to Nebraska, but the former Hawkeye was accused of betting while under 21 and making about 1,850 wagers with at least one on Iowa sporting events.
Lastly, Gehrig Christensen, a baseball player for Iowa, allegedly used his phone to place 559 bets with 23 placed on Iowa athletic events.
A common theme amongst most of the statements was that the student-athletes utilized online betting sites under a different family members identity. The investigation is ongoing, meaning that additional charges may be filed. For current players, if they are found guilty then they could face a loss of eligibility for violating the NCAA gambling rules.