SEC Adopts Rule Barring Transfers With Violent Pasts

The Southeastern Conference will no longer allow its members to accept transfer athletes with histories of domestic and sexual violence. The new policy, adopted last week, states that any athletes who have been subject to official university disciplinary action for "serious misconduct" such as domestic abuse and sexual assault at another college are not eligible for athletically related financial aid, practice or competition at an SEC program. If an athlete is later proven to be innocent, a waiver can be granted to the student. The SEC is the first athletic conference to adopt such a rule.