Bonesville.net Staff

East Carolina, which thought it had won its first NCAA title recently, will have to continue its pursuit of that lofty goal for a while longer.

Julien Dunkley, who sped to a first-place finish in the 60-meter dash in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March, has had his title taken away, according to a statement provided by the East Carolina department of athletics in response to a query from Bonesville.net.

"The NCAA has ruled an ECU student-athlete ineligible for the 2003 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships," the statement said, adding: "This ruling mandates the forfeiture of this individual's first-place performance in the finals of the 60-meter dash."

The ruling became official late last week.

Dunkley, who is no longer listed on the Pirates track roster, broke the tape in 6.54 seconds in the event which was held in Fayetteville, Ark. The Westbury, NY, senior's time was only a whisker off the NCAA Meet record of 6.52.

In light of Dunkley's ineligibility, Mississippi State's Pierre Browne (6.60), who finished second in the race, presumably becomes the 60-meter dash champ by default.

Citing provisions in the Federal Privacy Act, an East Carolina official noted that the school could not disclose reasons for Dunkley's ineligibility.

Among potential infractions that could prompt the NCAA to strip away a title would be a belated discovery that the athlete was not academically eligible to compete when the event took place or a failure by the athlete to pass a drug test.

As of press time late Monday night, Bonesville.net had been unable to confirm the specific reason for the NCAA action.

— 30 —