United States Congressman John Katko (NY-24) called for greater accountability from the NCAA in a press release sent Thursday.

Katko, who represents the Syracuse area, called for greater transparency from the NCAA and said he would efforts in Congress to make necessary changes to support the health, safety and welfare of collegiate athletes.

“The NCAA is given tremendous power by its member organizations while being subject to minimal oversight,” Katko in the release. “While I do not doubt the NCAA’s desire to promote high standards among its members, its recent eight-year investigation of Syracuse University Athletics leaves as many questions as it does answers.  It’s time for Congress to take action to demand greater accountability from the NCAA.”

Katko said he has “serious concerns that the NCAA standards are not applied in a uniform fashion nationwide.” He added that he felt the timing of the release of the NCAA’s report into Syracuse University “seemed designed to maximize the humiliation of Coach Boeheim…”

Katko said in the release that he is concerned the sanctions do the most harm to student-athletes.

“As the very individuals the NCAA is charged to protect, students should be at the forefront of this conversation – but right now they are suffering the most,” he said. “Our collegiate athletes were stripped of scholarships and they deserve a more thoughtful and appropriate response from the NCAA.  I will make that known to the NCAA.”

Katko also pledged to support legislative initiatives to improve the health and education of student athletes and require greater accountability from the NCAA and to reform “the arbitrary enforcement processes utilized by the NCAA,” saying the NCAA’s arbitration procedures need to be reformed.

“The University, many innocent and future student-athletes, and support staff were severely damaged by this decision and I stand ready to support them,” he said.

Published on March 19, 2015 at 12:29 pm

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306