The first Indo-Canadian to enter the Canadian Football League, David Sidoo was later inducted into the British Columbia Football Hall of Fame
VANCOUVER: Indo-Canadian businessman and former national football player David Siddo has been stripped of the Order of British Columbia for his links to the infamous US college admissions scandal of 2019.
In the scandal, over 50 people have been charged with paying millions in bribes to get their children admitted into top US institutions.
The Order of British Columbia is the highest award given by British Columbia province in Canada for top achievers.
Sidoo has become the first person to be stripped of the award. He has been ordered to return the award immediately.
The 60-year-old Sikh businessman and investment banker pleaded guilty in Boston federal court in March for using bribe to get his two sons admitted into American colleges.
According to the FBI, David Sidoo paid $100,000 to the scandal mastermind William Rick Singer to use an imposter to take the standardized test (called SAT) on behalf of his elder son. It facilitated his son’s admission into Chapman University. He paid another $100,000 for the admission of his younger son. He also paid imposters to write local British Columbian school exams for his sons.
Sidoo, who is yet to be sentenced for the fraud, has reached a plea deal with the US attorney to face 90 days in jail and a fine of $250,000.
His sentencing hearing comes up on July 15.
A celebrated soccer player, David Sidoo was the first Indo-Canadian to enter the Canadian Football League. Later, he was inducted into the British Columbia Football Hall of Fame.
To celebrate his achievements, his alma mater – the University of British Columbia – had named a stadium after him – David Sidoo Field. But his name was removed from the stadium in March after he pleaded guilty to the fraud.
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