UH checking into pot-smoking charge

The University of Hawaii said it is looking into an allegation that marijuana smoke in Riverside, Calif., rooms assigned to members of its men’s basketball team was the cause of $500 in cleaning fees billed to the athletic department.

Athletic director Ben Jay said, "I’ve been apprised of an incident in the hotel but I can’t comment further."

The Rainbow Warriors played a road game at UC Riverside on Jan. 17, losing to the Highlanders, 66-62.

A smoke alarm in a non-smoking room is said to have alerted security staff to one incident. A manager at the Riverside Marriott Convention Center declined comment.

The Marriott website lists a "room recovery fee for guests who do not comply in order to cover the extensive cost of restoring guest rooms to a smoke-free condition." UH said the fee is $250 per room.

Jay said the allegation is under "review" and declined to identify the occupants of the rooms citing "privacy rights issues." He also declined to confirm the number of players who have been interviewed in the case except to acknowledge, "it is more than one."

Coach Benjy Taylor declined comment after Monday’s practice. The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to leave Tuesday morning on an 13-day, four-game Big West Conference road trip.

UH officials would not say what the possible courses of action might be if the allegation is substantiated or if players would be required to pay the fees. The Student-Athlete Handbook says the department may drug test athletes and suspend those found to be in violation.