Cal State L.A. Investigated by NCAA

The NCAA is looking into allegations made by three former members of the Cal State Los Angeles women’s cross-country team who accused Coach Greg Ryan of violating NCAA rules, misappropriating funds and mentally abusing them.

Maria Lopez, who along with Gracie Padilla and Jeri Young filed complaints with the university in May, said she had been interviewed by an NCAA investigator at her home in Compton. Lopez said she had contacted the NCAA about Ryan before she delivered her complaint to Cal State L.A.

In the complaints, which were detailed in The Times last month, the players accused Ryan of signing a parent’s name on financial aid documents, telling some athletes to sign for per-diem payments at meets in which they did not participate, lending athletes money, paying the rent for a star athlete a year before she enrolled at Cal State L.A., reneging on promises of full scholarships and being so obsessed with athletes’ weight that he encouraged them to skip meals.

Mark Canevari, who is conducting the in-house investigation for Cal State L.A., would not comment on the NCAA inquiry.

Lopez, 21, said she has also been interviewed by Canevari. “This is going to be a long process to get to the bottom of all this,” Lopez said. “I went to the [NCAA] because I didn’t trust anyone at the school. I still have my doubts about the school investigating itself.”