ST. LOUIS (CN) - The NCAA has put the University of Missouri-St. Louis on 2 years probation after finding that a former golf coach ran a multimillion-dollar fantasy sports company using school resources. Dustin Ashby, who resigned in August 2009, used a volunteer assistant and three UM golfers to help run GridIron Fantasy Sports, which generated revenue of $2.8 to $3 million, according to an NCAA report.
UMSL was cited for sports wagering and unethical conduct violations, and for "failure to monitor" the program. The probation does not affect the school's postseason participation in any sport.
Ashby told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he was sorry he put the university in this position and he was glad none of the student athletes would be punished. Neither the volunteer assistant coach nor the golfers were named in the report.
GridIron Fantasy Sports was formed under Ashby's 360 Sports Marketing and was founded for the purpose of buying the World Championship of Fantasy Football, according to the NCAA report.
Teams wanting to play in the World Championship have to post a $1,750 entry fee; 1,200 teams can play. More than $1.6 million in cash prizes are awarded; the winner gets $300,000.
The NCAA added fantasy leagues to its rules prohibiting sports wagering in 2007.
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