April 26, 2004

Seattle - Tuesday, University of Washington president Lee Huntsman will hold a press conference to provide a progress report on the University's athletic department. Huntsman's update will include the release of the investigative report regarding the investigation of former volunteer athletic team physician Dr. William Scheyer and former assistant athletic trainer Craig Moriwaki. The University's response to the NCAA Notice of Allegations regarding rules violations in the department will be released.

In addition, information will be provided on restructuring of the athletic department's compliance department, progress on the search for a new athletic director and a scheduled review of the athletic department by a former conference commissioner/athletic director and university president.

Huntsman requested an investigative panel review the softball program last October. The investigation was prompted by an inquiry of the Washington State Department of Health into a complaint that Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki inappropriately distributed medication to some Washington student-athletes.

The investigative Panel included Kevin Rainge, manager of the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office; Mary Hebert, associate professor in the School of Pharmacy; Rob Aronson, faculty athletic representative and professor of law and Dr. Darryl Wareham, lead pharmacist at Harborview Medical Center.

In the report the Panel made the following conclusions based on the evidence it gathered, witness interviews and analysis of relevant documentation. The panel interviewed a total of 18 current and former student-athletes and 23 current and former faculty and staff.

1. Dr. William Scheyer and Craig Moriwaki improperly provided narcotic medications and other prescription drugs to Washington student-athletes.

2. Head softball coach Teresa Wilson and assistant coach Scott Centala knew or should have known that Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki overused medications, including narcotic pain medications, in treating UW student-athletes and that there were credible concerns about the quality of medical care that Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki provided to Washington student-athletes.

3. Head softball coach Teresa Wilson's actions isolated the softball team and created an environment that allowed Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki to overuse medications in treating Washington student-athletes.

4. The evidence makes it likely that, if athletic director Barbara Hedges and senior associate athletic director Marie Tuite did not know, they should have known that Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki overused medications and that there were credible concerns about the quality of medical care provided by Dr. Scheyer and Moriwaki. There was insufficient evidence to conclude that Hedges and Tuite knew or should have known that the misuse of medications included the use of narcotic pain medications in treating Washington student-athletes.

During the course of the investigation it was discovered between the playing seasons from 2000 to 2003 and during the fall of 2003 the Husky softball team had violated the 20-hour rule (NCAA Bylaw 17.1.5.1) by a combined total of 36.5 hours. The University self-reported the violation and has imposed penalties regarding the violation.

The athletic department reported the secondary rules violation regarding the softball program to the Pacific-10 Conference on March 24. With the assistance of the Pac-10 enforcement staff and input from NCAA enforcement staff, the investigation revealed that during the past four and one-half seasons the softball team practiced a total of 36.5 hours in excess of the 20-hour weekly and four-hour daily time limitations. It also revealed excess hours due to participation in clinics and imprecise recordkeeping. The University concluded these violations were secondary because they were inadvertent in nature and provided a minimal, if any, competitive advantage.

As a result of the violation the athletic department has reduced the number of practice hours by twice the amount (the assumed penalty pursuant to NCAA rules), for a total of 73 hours. The 73 hours will or have been deducted starting in February and will continue through the conclusion of the team's regular season schedule (May 15). The University will delay the start of the 2004 fall season by three days and reduce the daily practice time from four hours to three during the entire fall season. The University will also develop a plan to consistently monitor compliance with playing and practice seasons.

"The very thorough investigation has made it clear that our student-athletes in the softball program were exposed to potentially harmful medical practices," said UW President Lee Huntsman. "It is also clear that no one in the athletic department in any way intended them harm. We know what factors led to the situation and have implemented changes to ensure that such practices are prevented from occurring in the future."