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NCAA finishes internal review in University of Miami scandalFeb 07, 2013 (The Miami Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- On Wednesday, two weeks after the NCAA announced it had brought in a high-powered attorney to conduct an external review of the NCAA enforcement staff's "improper conduct'' in its investigation into the University of Miami and its relationship with former booster Nevin Shapiro, the NCAA said it had concluded that review. Bob Williams, the NCAA vice president of communications, released a statement indicating the governing body of college athletics is nearing the end of the process related to the review -- precipitated by the NCAA's admission that it paid the attorney of Shapiro to improperly obtain information during a bankruptcy deposition. "NCAA President Mark Emmert announced on January 23 an external review of the NCAA enforcement staff's actions related to the University of Miami investigation would be conducted by Kenneth L. Wainstein, a partner with the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP," the statement began. "Mr. Wainstein has completed the necessary interviews and review of information and is now in the process of preparing a final report, which the NCAA expects to receive by the end of next week. We will release the results of the review following the completion of the report." On Tuesday, CBSSports.com cited two sources in reporting that NCAA vice president of enforcement Jule Roe Lach is the person who "approved the disbursement of at least $20,000 in October-November 2011" for Shapiro's attorney, Miami-based criminal defense attorney Maria Elena Perez. Perez did not respond to a voicemail and email by The Miami Herald. The findings of the review should hasten the next phase of the investigation, which normally would be the NCAA's distribution of the Notices of Allegations to the alleged individual wrongdoers, as well as to the school itself. It is yet to be revealed how the findings of this investigation will affect the outcome of the case, though if anything it is likely to soften whatever sanctions the Hurricanes receive. ___ (c)2013 The Miami Herald Visit The Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |