USC Gets Djavadian by Default

Armenian diver Arsen Djavadian couldn’t choose between UCLA and USC. As it turned out, he didn’t have to.

Fearing that an NCAA rule violation by UCLA swimming Coach Ron Ballatore would cost him his eligibility at UCLA, Djavadian decided to attend USC.

“For me, I make a decision to go to USC because probably there will be some problems with going to UCLA,” Djavadian said.

The problems began when Djavadian enrolled in an English-as-a-second-language class at UCLA extension Jan. 7. Djavadian did not have the $485 fee for the class, so Ballatore paid it. The payment was meant as a loan, Ballatore said, to be repaid immediately. Djavadian repaid Ballatore last Thursday.

NCAA rules prohibit loans to prospective student-athletes, although emergency situations are taken into consideration, according to Rich Hilliard, an NCAA director of enforcement.

“I didn’t know anything about the rules,” said Djavadian who defected from the former Soviet Union during the 1990 Goodwill Games in Federal Way, Wash. “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with borrowing the money.”

Ballatore said Thursday he didn’t know there was anything wrong with lending the money, as long as it was repaid.

UCLA athletic department administrators are looking into the incident at the request of the Pacific 10 Conference. According to Judith Holland, UCLA senior associate athletic director, officials from the Pac-10 asked for a written report after the violation was publicized.

Once the inquiry is complete, UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis and his staff will decide if Ballatore’s actions warrant a penalty.

Conference officials will determine whether the report should be sent on to the NCAA.

Holland, who is in charge of compliance, said it’s the first time Ballatore has been involved in a violation.

Ballatore, who led the Bruins to the 1982 NCAA championship, is in his 14th season at UCLA.

Meanwhile, Djavadian is attending USC. “I am a student now,” he said. “I have a student card. I am so excited to be in college. Everything is great.”

Djavadian, a 10-meter specialist, could make his debut for the Trojans Friday against No. 1-ranked Stanford at USC.