(Iowa) – The betting scandal continues to make headlines after more than two dozen Iowa and Iowa State athletes filed for a federal lawsuit. This comes after they allege that the investigators violated the athletes’ constitutional rights by using the geolocation software to track cell phone activity.
There are currently 26 former and current athletes that have been effected by the geolocation software with nine from Iowa State and 16 from Iowa. The athletes allege that their rights were violated by the state, Department of Public Safety, and Division of Criminal Investigation that illegally used the GeoComply software without a warrant. Many of these athletes were betting illegally on athletics as many were under the age of 21.
Matt Boles, Adam Witosky, and Van Plumb, the attorneys for the plaintiffs, said in a statement, “It is our hope that through the civil action, we can help these young men put their lives back on track and gain a measure of justice for the violation of their rights.”
While it was found that they were doing this without a warrant, the DCI agents were told they were assisting an inquiry of sports betting companies. The athletes were told that DCI agents came to the residences of these athletes on May 2nd to get the cell phones from the athletes which were returned just a few hours later that same day.
The NCAA does not allow any athletes to bet on any sport that is sponsored by the NCAA and recommends not betting on any sports by its athletes.
