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Report: NFL bans prospects with domestic violence, sexual assault convictions from combine

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The NFL will prevent players with convictions for domestic violence, sexual assault, or weapons offenses from attending the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today.

The policy change was explained to teams in a memo issued late last month by the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent.

"It is important for us to remain strongly committed to league values as we demonstrate to our fans, future players, coaches, general managers, and others who support our game that character matters," Vincent stated in the document.

Under the new rule, if a prospect's background check reveals a felony or misdemeanor conviction, they will be barred from "any league-related event," including the combine and the draft.

Players that refuse to submit to a background check will face the same ban.

Vincent reportedly told teams that the players who end up barred under this new rule will still be allowed to participate in private workouts, pro days, and regional combines.

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