National Collegiate Athletic Association

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For Immediate Release

Friday, March 5, 2010

Contact(s)

Stacey Osburn
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117

INDIANAPOLIS --- Mississippi State University basketball student-athlete Renardo Sidney must repay benefits and miss further competitions as a condition of becoming eligible to compete in college athletics, according to a decision by the NCAA academic and membership affairs staff. 

Sidney must sit out the remainder of the current season and 30 percent, which is estimated to be nine games, of the 2010-11 season. He will have three seasons of remaining eligibility. In addition, he must repay the $11,800 in benefits received from preferential treatment.

The university declared the student-athlete ineligible for violations of NCAA ethical conduct and preferential treatment rules. The university found that the student-athlete violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he provided false or misleading information throughout the eligibility process.

He and his family benefited by using funds from a non-profit organization for personal gain, according to the facts presented by the university. These funds would not have been available were it not for the student-athlete’s athletic skills and reputation. Preferential treatment in this case also included hotel accommodations and other travel expenses, as well as free athletic gear and training.

“Our members have made it crystal clear that student-athletes who receive impermissible benefits, either directly or indirectly, and who lie to the NCAA must be held accountable,” stated Kevin Lennon, vice president for academic and membership affairs.

“This case is about more than a single student-athlete. One of our core responsibilities is to ensure a level playing field for all student-athletes and their teams.  No team or individual should have an unfair advantage.”

The NCAA made repeated requests for specific information related to the eligibility of Sidney beginning in April 2009. However, he and his attorney failed to promptly and accurately reply to this information, which caused multiple delays in reaching a resolution in the case.

In contrast, the NCAA received the final reinstatement request with all agreed upon facts on Friday (February 26) and rendered its decision within a week.

The staff considers a number of factors when deciding each case. These include the nature and seriousness of the violation; any impermissible benefits received; the student-athlete’s level of responsibility; any mitigating factors presented by the university; applicable NCAA guidelines; and any relevant case precedent.

The staff considered all factors presented by Mississippi State University in its review of the situation.

The university can appeal the decision to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. This committee can reduce or remove the conditions, but it cannot increase the conditions imposed by the staff.

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