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NCAA president: Bribery allegations suggest 'despicable breach of trust'

Steve Nowland / NCAA Photos / Getty

The president of the NCAA says charges that bribes were exchanged to influence NBA-destined college stars' choice of schools, agents and financial advisers are ''deeply disturbing.''

Mark Emmert said Tuesday that the NCAA has ''no tolerance whatsoever'' for the behavior alleged by federal prosecutors.

Four assistant basketball coaches from Arizona, Auburn, the University of Southern California and Oklahoma State were among those arrested on federal corruption charges earlier Tuesday. Authorities say they were caught taking thousands of dollars in bribes to steer stars toward certain agents or advisers.

Emmert says coaches hold a ''unique position of trust'' between players and their families and that the allegations suggest ''an extraordinary and despicable breach of that trust.''

Also charged was the director of global sports marketing for basketball at Adidas.

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