BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois High School Association has decided four Sudanese students can play sports, but their high school is on probation.
The IHSA ruled Monday that three basketball players and one cross-country runner, all juniors, can compete for tiny Mooseheart High School in suburban Chicago. But the association said Mooseheart is ineligible to participate in the 2013 end-of-year state basketball series until it completes IHSA directives.
The IHSA, which governs the state’s interscholastic sports, got involved after the coach of a rival high school’s basketball team raised questions about A-HOPE, an Indiana-based foundation that paid for the four Sudanese athletes to come to the United States.
The IHSA said A-HOPE took advantage of the students.
Messages for A-HOPE seeking comment weren’t immediately returned Monday.
