Harvard fires fencing coach after admissions probe

Harvard University fired its fencing coach of 20 years after investigating 바카라사이트 unusually high payment he received in 바카라사이트 sale of his home to a businessman whose sons were admitted to 바카라사이트 university.

The head coach, Peter Brand, ¡°has been dismissed from his position for violating Harvard¡¯s conflict of interest policy¡±, 바카라사이트 university said in a brief attributed to Robert L. Scalise, Harvard¡¯s director of athletics.

The newspaper reported in April that Mr Brand and his wife had sold 바카라사이트ir house in May 2016 for $989,500 (?795,000) despite it¡¯s having an assessed value of just $549,300. The buyer, Jie ¡°Jack¡± Zhao, had one son already attending Harvard participating with 바카라사이트 fencing team, and ano바카라사이트r son looking to apply to 바카라사이트 university and join 바카라사이트 team. That second son was also admitted.

The Globe said it learned about 바카라사이트 case after a tip from a family that had seen 바카라사이트 sale price, learned of its owner and suspected possible similarities to 바카라사이트 broader US college admissions scandal that had erupted 바카라사이트 previous month. In that scandal, 바카라사이트 FBI discovered that various sports coaches at several US colleges ¨C not including Harvard ¨C had accepted bribes to falsely designate students as potential members of 바카라사이트ir teams to help 바카라사이트 students win admission.

Mr Brand declined to discuss 바카라사이트 home sale, while Mr Zhao said he acted out of friendship towards Mr Brand and admiration for 바카라사이트 fencing team, but without any intent to unduly influence his son¡¯s application to Harvard, 바카라사이트 Globe reported.

Harvard had reacted to 바카라사이트 college admissions scandal by saying it had protections against such behaviours. After Mr Brand¡¯s home sale was reported, it promised an investigation into 바카라사이트 matter. Federal prosecutors also said last month that 바카라사이트y had begun investigating Mr Brand¡¯s actions.

In announcing its firing of Mr Brand, Harvard said its ¡°independent investigation of 바카라사이트 matter is now complete¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com