CIF Director Affirms Iti Suspension

The executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation has sustained the athletic suspension of Villa Park junior Martin Iti, ending Iti’s hopes for a return to the basketball court within the CIF appeals framework.

But Ronald E. Lais, Iti’s lawyer, said he plans to ask Villa Park Principal Fran Roney for a fifth year of eligibility during the 2001-02 school year after presenting her with additional academic records that show Iti wasn’t performing at the high school level when he left Australia in June 1998 to further his basketball career in the United States.

Roney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

If Roney declines to give Iti additional eligibility, Lais said, he is prepared to file a civil lawsuit to compel the Orange Unified School District and CIF to restore Iti’s eligibility based on a proper interpretation of CIF rules.

“We’re taking off the gloves with [Roney] and the Orange Unified School District,” Lais said. “We feel that for whatever reason, Martin is being mishandled.”

In September, Roney gave Iti a one-year suspension for allegedly providing false information about his academic status when he left Australia. The suspension was later upheld by Southern Section Commissioner James Staunton and a section appeals committee.

In a letter to Lais and Roney dated Thursday, CIF Executive Director Jack Hayes said he could not “take any action but to sustain the decision of the section appeals committee. . . . I found all parties with whom I communicated had a strong interest in the welfare of this young man. I found the concern of the school principal particularly compelling. She expressed strong concerns for his welfare that go far beyond athletic eligibility.”

Iti, a 6-foot-11 center, averaged 12 points and 7.6 rebounds for Servite last season before transferring to Villa Park in April, his fourth transfer since moving to the United States.

He hasn’t played for No. 3 Villa Park (7-0) this season, but that hasn’t kept UCLA and USC from showing interest. Iti was a guest of the Trojans at Thursday night’s game against Pepperdine at the Sports Arena.

Iti could not be reached for comment.