Josephine Potuto, a law professor at the University of Nebraska and former chair of the NCAA infractions committee, said she thought the NCAA erred in its attempt to punish Penn State - and she's not surprised the governing body went in a different direction with Michigan State. The NCAA punished Penn State football for the Jerry Sandusky child sexual-abuse scandal, but those sanctions were challenged in court and rolled back. "They are not intended to be an extension of law enforcement." "I think this is part of the challenge the NCAA faces," said Gabe Feldman, director of the sports law program at Tulane University. The NCAA sent a letter of inquiry to Michigan State in January about potential rules violations related to Nassar, but this week's findings didn't come as a huge surprise. He has been sentenced to decades in prison in three separate cases involving assault and child pornography. Olympians who trained at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. Nassar, 55, pleaded guilty to assaulting girls and women while working as a campus sports doctor for Michigan State athletes and gymnasts in the region. "Based on available information, it does not appear there is need for further inquiry."īeekman said the university "cooperated fully with the inquiry" and welcomes the NCAA's conclusion. "This review has not substantiated violations of NCAA legislation," Duncan wrote in his letter, which was dated Wednesday and addressed to Michigan State athletic director Bill Beekman. The school released a letter from Jonathan Duncan, the NCAA's vice president for enforcement, that addressed the Nassar case, as well as an investigation into how the university has handled allegations involving football and men's basketball players.