There has been a current of opinion in the United States for a long time that advocates a profound reform of the university sports system, from those who think that athletes should be paid openly to those who believe that they should be protected above all else. This second group includes a Spanish woman, Ana Yrazusta (Las Palmas, 24 years old), who suffered what seems like a clear injustice due to a breach of that imperfect system together with her compatriot Laura Moreno (Murcia, 24 years old). Both played tennis at the University of Massachusets and due to an administrative error that led to a harsh sanction by the Infractions Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) they were left without the victories obtained individually and without the title of the Atlantic 10 Conference they achieved with their collegiate team in 2017. The reason: that two classmates who left the university residence did not return $ 126 destined to the installation of a landline telephone socket that they were not entitled to receive when living on their own during the 2015-16 season.
Due to this administrative error by UMass, which made an internal audit and duly reported it, the women's tennis team and the men's basketball team were withdrawn from all the triumphs and titles won during three years. Outraged by this decision, the players who received that lump sum of $ 252 made a request on change.org for their merits to be replaced. Both claim that they were unaware of the fact that they were receiving an extra payment and that they did not know to which item that figure corresponded. UMass paid a fine of $ 5,000 and the girls think that the sports penalty is unfair and “disproportionate.”
“We found out about everything because a few weeks ago we began to see many articles in American media such as ESPN or the Boston Globe”, he explains to AS Yrazusta, who went to study in Boston to reconcile his passion for tennis with quality studies. “Many people say that it is the worst penalty in the NCAA since its inception. We understand that there are rules and that the University has done it wrong, but why do we have to pay the players, that we have not done anything. They can't do this to us for $ 352, “continues Ana, who clarifies that the main objective is to give them back” everything “they have won” on the track “and” try to create a conversation and make the NCAA realize that things are not doing well. “ Also, Yrazusta says, they want to “spread the word in Spain, because many children think of going there. That way they can change things. We athletes are saying 'enough is enough'”.
Ana finds it “very ridiculous” that the NCAA Infractions Committee defends her situation by saying “that UMass was in an advantageous position over other universities” for those $ 252 undue dollars. “I would understand the situation if my teammates had been paid under the table to play in our team, but it has nothing to do with that,” he concludes. The fact is, athletes who live off campus receive an allowance that corresponds to the cost of the room so that they can afford the rent. Any other destination is not authorized. Yrazusta is clear that “the players cannot be above the law” and is only asking for justice. For now, they have the support of the college tennis organization, many national and international media and even a senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, who wants to do something to protect athletes.