Notre Dame’s men’s swim team is prohibited from entering any competitions for at least one academic year after it came to light that team members were betting on themselves. NCAA rules prohibit athletes from placing bets on any college sports, let alone their own competitions.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua explained that an external review by a law firm uncovered the issues and led to the self-imposed ban. He said that the goal behind the suspension is to ensure that the “behavior ends and to rebuild a culture of dignity, respect, and exemplary conduct.”
Bevacqua doesn’t believe the coaching staff was aware of the widespread issues.
some swim team members placed wagers through an internal sportsbook
According to an Associated Press source, some swim team members placed wagers through an internal sportsbook, betting on the times they or their teammates would hit during competitions. The investigation did not find evidence that the students bet on rival swim teams or other Notre Dame sports.
This insider source said that over 60% of the team placed wagers at some stage and certain individuals even used the internal sportsbook to bet on major events like the Super Bowl.