The NCAA News Digest

May 24, 1999

• TITLE IX -- Annual seminar examines 'next generation' of issues
• FEDERAL RELATIONS -- Attorneys meet with IRS to discuss tax deduction matter
• BASKETBALL -- Rules committee discontinues 'held-ball' rule
• SPORTS SCIENCES -- NCAA announces plans to outsource drug testing

TITLE IX

Annual seminar examines 'next generation' of issue

The NCAA's eighth Title IX seminar, conducted May 11-12 in Chicago, addressed the next generation of Title IX issues: sexual harassment, coaches' compensation and equity in the athletic training room.

Nearly 400 people attended, including athletics administrators, university counsels and private attorneys.

Staff contact: Janet M. Justus.

FEDERAL RELATIONS

Attorneys meet with IRS to discuss tax deduction matter

The Internal Revenue Service has taken under advisement a challenge to a ruling it made recently regarding whether a donation to support athletics facility renovation is deductible if a guarantee to lease a skybox is provided in return.

In 1996, the R.L. French Corporation made a $200,000 donation to the Iowa State University Foundation for a 10-year lease on a luxury box. Iowa State determined that $20,520 was the value for the rental of the luxury suite, including parking. The corporation took a deduction on the allowable 80 percent of the remaining $179,480 as a charitable deduction.

However, the IRS regional office disallowed the contribution as a tax deduction, stating that the right to lease the skybox could be secured only through a gift of $200,000. Therefore, the value of the entire contribution did not qualify as a charitable deduction.

The NCAA and other higher education associations are supporting R.L. French's claim.

Staff contact: Doris A. Dixon.

BASKETBALL

Rules committee discontinues 'held-ball'rule

The men's basketball "held-ball" rule was discontinued at the May 3-6 meeting of the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Rules Committees.

The rule was rescinded after one season of use. Next season, in all held-ball situations, the team that is awarded the ball will be determined by the alternating-possession arrow, just as in 1997-98 and previous seasons.

Changes also were made in the number of timeouts allowed during games, and in the positioning of players in the lane during free-throw attempts.

Staff contact: Marty Benson.

SPORTS SCIENCES

NCAA announces plans to outsource drug testing

The NCAA will outsource administration of its drug-testing program, effective July 5.

The program's administrative functions will remain under the direction of Frank D. Uryasz, NCAA director of sports sciences. Uryasz an-nounced last summer that he would not be relocating to Indianapolis when the national office moves there in July.

In July, Uryasz will launch a company that will provide drug-testing services, primarily in athletics. NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey approved the transfer of the NCAA drug-testing program's administrative functions to Uryasz's company, the National Center for Drug-Free Sport, earlier this month.

Uryasz said the program will employ the same drug-testing crews for specimen collection and use the same laboratories for processing results.

Staff contact: Frank D. Uryasz.