Trump signs order to curb big-money college sport payouts

United States President Donald Trump waded into a debate over the influence of big-money payouts in college sports on Thursday, signing an executive order adding federal government scrutiny to the practice. The order, which is expected to face legal challenges, seeks to block some recruiting payments by third parties like donors to college athletes in big-dollar sports like football and men’s basketball in order to preserve funds available for women’s and non-revenue sports, reports Trevor Hunnicutt for Reuters.

Though the practice is already forbidden by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, some donors have found ways to bypass the rules to recruit top talent with lucrative offers. The policy is not aimed at fair-market compensation to athletes for brand endorsements, the White House said.

The order also pushes colleges to raise scholarship payments for non-revenue sports and directs US officials to start “clarifying” the legal status of student-athletes.
Full report on the Reuters site