NCAA president Mark Emmert confirms North Carolina could face sanctions for academic fraud

The NCAA and its president Mark Emmert will wait for UNC to finish its investigation before taking its next step. (US Presswire)

NCAA president Mark Emmert told CBSSports.com on Monday that the NCAA hasn't yet determined whether North Carolina will face additional sanctions because of allegations of academic fraud pertaining to former student-athletes.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation and see what the facts are as they unfold from the investigations that [UNC] is involved with," Emmert said. "... And [then we'll see] if there's anything further that we need to do at that time."

Emmert's comments represent the first public confirmation from the NCAA that North Carolina remains susceptible to further sanctions because of previously undiscovered but now documented classes that featured little or no instruction and appear designed to do nothing more than keep student-athletes eligible. In light of the developments, UNC chancellor Holden Thorp announced last month that he will step down at the end of this academic calendar.

"[North Carolina is] working very diligently to get to the bottom of it," Emmert said. "We'll just have to see what the facts are as they become clearer."