WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of Athletics and Recreation announced today the loss of its appeal involving football student-athlete David Montoya and Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s “5-in-7” eligibility regulation.
The appeal was heard by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) on Friday, Oct. 15.
The decision concludes that Wilfrid Laurier University played with an ineligible player in the 37-6 win against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Sept. 11, 2010. Under Ontario University Athletics (OUA) rules, Laurier must forfeit the game and Toronto is credited with a 1-0 win.
“Laurier presented the case to ensure fairness for all student-athletes, including David,” said Laurier’s director of Athletics and Recreation Peter Baxter. “We hope that lessons have been learned when it comes to implementing retroactive rule applications and that the process of implementation will be improved by the CIS by better educating department staff, coaches and athletes well in advance of the rule.”
Wilfrid Laurier with the support of senior administration did not take the decision to go to arbitration lightly. The university attempted due process, and had the right to do go SDRCC for arbitration in this case. Wilfrid Laurier respects the decision of the arbitrator.
The “5-in-7” rule forces football student-athletes to use their five years of eligibility within seven years from the date of graduation from high school (eight in Quebec). It was implemented at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) annual general meeting in June of 2010 and applied immediately to anyone not on the 2009-10 eligibility certificate, with no “grandfather” period.
The Golden Hawk men’s football team is now 2-4 entering their second last game of the regular season.
Source: Laurier Sports Info
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