Geneseo Central High School has forfeited the remainder of its "Blue Devils" varsity football season.
A number of student players have been dismissed from the team after allegedly using OxyContin, a controlled narcotic prescription pain killer, before a game this past Friday.
According to Village of Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, the investigation is focused on allegations that a student member of the high school varsity football team took OxyContin pills from a parent without their knowledge and gave them to fellow team members before Friday night's game against Bolivar-Richburg.
The police chief told 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly that his department believes seven students were involved with most being 16-years-old and one age 15.
Distributing controlled narcotics on school property could result in a felony charge. Chief Osganian explained that once the police investigation is done, it will be up to the Livingston County District Attorney to determine what charges will be filed.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Geneseo Central Schools Superintendent Tim Hayes wrote, "These dismissals stem from serious violations of the district's Code of Conduct and Athletic Eligibility Standards."
"Due to the sheer number of student-athletes involved and the serious nature of this incident..., the remainder of the varsity football season will be forfeited," wrote Hayes.
During a late afternoon press conference, Hayes said the decision was painful because it also affected several players and families who were innocent and had done nothing wrong. Some of those innocent players, said Hayes, had come forward to report the drug use. However, Hayes explained the number of students involved made it impossible to field enough players to continue the varsity football program this year.
The district has also forfeited the game against Bolivar-Richburg.
The Junior Varsity and Modified Football teams will continue their seasons.
The case is under investigation with assistance from the Livingston County Sheriff's Office because one the involved student athletes is related to a member of the village's police department.
Ed Reilly has more in his reports.
