Augsburg University’s star runner, Mohammed Bati, a two-time NCAA Division 3 North Regional champion, now finds his future clouded with uncertainty after being declared ineligible for his final season. Since joining Augsburg in 2023, Bati has dazzled on the course, claiming victory in 19 out of 28 races and earning a historic nod as the first Auggie to be named Division III Men’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Week by the USTFCCCA.
Following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships on November 22nd, where Bati finished second, all his results from this year are currently under review.
The Reason Behind Mohammed Bati’s Suspension From NCAA Competition
Bati’s running journey began at Highland Park High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he posted respectable times in the 1600m and 3200m, though he was not yet among the elite. Born in Ethiopia, he and his family moved to the United States in 2018. He launched his collegiate career at Augsburg University in 2022, at the age of 23.
In a post on X by Flo Track, it was revealed that the reason behind Bati’s ineligibility was his acceptance of financial assistance from his local community, which violated NCAA Division III amateurism rules.
Bati had accepted an amount of $6,000, which was given to him to assist with university costs, as the NCAA prohibits such payments due to their non-compliance with branding or sponsorships policies/guidelines.
Currently, Bati will not be able to complete his senior season with Augsburg, as there is no confirmation of whether an appeal will be filed. This could potentially affect the Auggies’ team standings as well as their NPI (National Performance Index) Values.
Bati Makes Feelings Known On His Ineligibility Ruling
This season, Bati captured his second All-American honor by finishing runner-up at the NCAA Division 3 Championships in 23:39.6, shattering the Augsburg school record by 15 seconds. Remarkably, he matched last year’s performance, when he also took second with a time of 24:03.7.
Following the NCAA’s ruling, Bati released a statement, expressing his thoughts on the situation:
“Last semester I was struggling with a lot of money. I didn’t want to drop out or stop going to school, and the community around me came together to support me. Sometimes rules don’t see the human behind the story, but I hope one day, things like helping someone won’t be a reason to stop them from doing what they love.” he said.
In the message, Bati also described how painful it was to lose his last season after working so hard and wanting to race alongside his teammates, but also expressed his gratitude to everyone who had helped and believed in him.
