Press Releases

Today, Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in a roundtable forum on intercollegiate athletics entitled “Hypocrisy or Hype? The Impact of Back-Room Deals, Payoffs, and Scandals in American Collegiate Student Athletics” organized by Representative Bobby Rush (D-ILL.).  The forum’s panel consisted of experts in the fields of sports journalism and economics, the president of the National College Players Association, a former sports agent, and the mothers of two former college athletes.  The panelists focused the discussion on the current policies governing intercollegiate athletics and their detrimental impact on student athletes and their families.

“Today, I heard testimony from the mothers of two former student athletes, whose sons’ careers were cut short by injuries and subsequently received little support from the intercollegiate athletic system,” Conyers said.  “Their testimony confirmed many of the concerns I have earlier expressed about the state of college sports and its effect on athletes and their families. 

“Recently, I wrote a letter to Chairman Smith requesting that the House Judiciary Committee hold hearings on antitrust and other legal issues within collegiate athletics, including the due process rights of athletes, limitations on the duration of athletic scholarships, and colleges’ responsibilities to athletes in the event of injury and death.

“In light of the issues raised at today’s forum, I reiterate my request to Chairman Smith that the Committee hold hearings on the impact of these and other legal issues important to athletes and their families.”

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