Bubu Palo granted temporary stay, eligible to return to team

ISU redshirt junior Bubu Palo brings the ball up the court against Ohio State in the third round game of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, March 24, 2013, at the University of Dayton Arena.  The Cyclones came close to a two-seeded upset but fell in a last second shot by Ohio State’s Aaron Craft 75-78.

Alex Halsted

Bubu Palo has been granted a temporary stay, allowing him to return to the ISU men’s basketball team. 

After being charged with sexual abuse in the second degree in September 2012 as the result of an incident in May 2012, Palo was indefinitely suspended from the basketball team during the interim of the case. When charges were dropped in January 2013, Palo was reinstated and played 17 games for the Cyclones during the 2012-13 season.

Also in September 2012, the Iowa State Office of Judicial Affairs charged Palo with violating the University’s Code of Conduct relating to sexual misconduct. That matter moved to an Administrative Law Judge, who ruled the accusations were not founded. 

An appeal was later heard by ISU President Steven Leath, though, who ruled the code of conduct had been violated. On Aug. 31, Palo was removed from the basketball team. The Iowa Board of Regents affirmed Leath’s decision on Dec. 5 and Palo took the matter to district court.

A Webster County judge temporarily stayed the sanction that was keeping him from the basketball team while the appeal plays out. He is now eligible to return to the basketball team until the appeal in heard.