Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Gambling probe may involve Dupay

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2001

The same day published reports linked Florida basketball player Teddy Dupay to a possible violation of the student conduct code, the University Police Department said it is looking into allegations of gambling by a student-athlete.

"We are investigating allegations of minor gambling infractions to determine if any of the allegations are criminal in nature," Joe Sharkey, public information officer for the University Police, said Wednesday.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Sharkey declined to identify the student-athlete.

The Gainesville Sun, citing unnamed sources close to the basketball program, reported Wednesday that Dupay was being investigated by school officials regarding his involvement with a Jacksonville bookmaker.

Repeated inquiries prompted UF athletic director Jeremy Foley to issue this statement: "We were made aware of a possible violation of the student conduct code as it relates to one of our student-athletes. Until all of the information is gathered, which is protected by the Buckley Amendment, we will have no additional comment."

The Buckley Amendment protects the privacy of student-athletes.

Dupay's mother, Pamela, told Florida Today she was aware of the school's conduct code inquiry.

"They can investigate, but he hasn't done anything, so let them look," she said. "I just think it's all a bunch of bull."

Dupay, a senior from Fort Myers, could not be reached at his Gainesville apartment. Basketball coach Billy Donovan, through a school spokesperson, declined to comment.

In the eyes of the NCAA, there is no such thing as a minor gambling infraction.

According to legislation adopted last year, "a student-athlete who solicits or accepts a bet or participates in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling" will lose at least one year of eligibility. If point-shaving or wagering on the player's institution is involved, the player will lose all remaining eligibility in all sports.

The NCAA could not confirm whether UF had contacted the governing body about a possible violation on its campus, NCAA public relations director Jane Jankowski said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Department has not charged anyone with bookmaking since Dec. 7, and Dupay's name did not come up during that investigation, public information officer John Turner said.

In 1989, Florida football players were the subject of a gambling investigation, when quarterbacks Shane Matthews and Kyle Morris and walk-ons Brady Ackerman and G.A. Mangus were suspended for the final six games of the season for betting on college and pro football games.

Dupay, a two-year starter, is one of Florida's most popular players but endured a tumultuous junior season. He was cited, but not charged, for driving through a security gate at his apartment complex. He irritated Donovan with criticism of UF fans after 8,055 turned out for the home opener against Florida Atlanta. He was suspended for the Dec. 2 game against DePaul for violating team rules.

Dupay, a 5-foot-11 guard, had surgery in January to repair a herniated disc in his lower back, but returned 20 days later to provide an emotional spark in a nationally televised victory against rival Tennessee.

He was named an honorable mention All-American, averaged 13.4 points and made 62 three-pointers.

A McDonald's All-American at Cape Coral's Mariner High, he was among the first big-name recruits to commit to Donovan at Florida, joining Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and LaDarius Halton in the 1999 signing class.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright