Lake Charles, LA -- (Sports Network) - The McNeese State men's basketball, and men and women's track and field programs were penalized on Thursday for major NCAA rules violations.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions accepted all of the self-imposed penalties recommended by the school, including a loss of scholarships, mandated decreases in recruiting activities, vacation of all women's track and field and cross country awards during 1999-2000, through 2003-04 and a two-year probation period.

The violations include academic fraud, ineligible participation, unethical conduct by two coaches, impermissible proctoring and tutoring, unallowable transportation, providing extra benefits as well as other impermissible recruiting activities.

The track and field violations occurred during 1999-2003 and involved the participation of an ineligible female athlete, improperly providing student- athletes extra benefits and the unethical conduct by the head coach.

In July 2003, McNeese and the Southland Conference began an investigation into possible rules violations by an assistant men's basketball coach that involved academic fraud, impermissible lodging and transportation benefits, official visit violations and unethical conduct.

"We have been waiting for more than two years to bring closure to the investigation into the major rules violations in the men's basketball and track program," McNeese President Dr. Robert Hebert said. "The NCAA accepted all of the self-imposed penalties and corrective actions recommended by the university, and we have moved forward with both programs."

The school self-reported additional secondary rules violations in the men's basketball program in June of 2006.

The penalties do not prevent either the men's basketball program or men and women's track and field program from participating in conference or post- season tournaments or meets.

"These events happened a long time ago," McNeese Director of Athletics Sonny Watkins said. "The former assistant men's basketball coach and former head track coach were both asked to resign in fall 2003 and we have moved on in both programs."