The Supreme Court on Monday sided with former University of West Virginia running back Shawne Alston and other college athletes in a dispute with the NCAA over rules limiting certain compensation.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that NCAA limits on the education-related benefits that colleges can offer athletes who play Division I basketball and football can’t be enforced, the Associated Press reported.
The decision could allow more money from the high-earning industry to go to the players. Under current NCAA rules, students cannot be paid, and the scholarship money colleges can offer is only as high as the cost of attending the school.
The NCAA has said its rules preserve the amateur nature of college sports.
But Alston and the other athletes who brought the case argued that the NCAA’s rules on education-related compensation were unfair and violate federal antitrust law designed to promote competition.
Although the case doesn’t decide whether students can be paid salaries, the ruling will help decide whether schools decide to offer athletes funds for education-related benefits.
Monday’s decision is separate from the name, image, likeness battle taking place in state legislatures and in Washington, D.C., over endorsement compensation for collegiate athletes.
