Gov. Andy Beshear has signed an executive order allowing college athletes in Kentucky to make money through the use of their name, image or likeness. That includes players on the nationally renowned Kentucky and Louisville men’s basketball teams.
The Democratic governor said Thursday he took the action as a matter of fairness for college athletes. He says it will spare Kentucky’s colleges from being at a competitive disadvantage with rivals in other states that will have laws enabling athletes to profit off their name, image, or likeness. Beshear said his executive order takes effect July 1, when similar legislation passed in several other states will become law.
University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart issued the following statement:
“Today’s executive order from the Governor provides us the flexibility we need at this time to further develop policies around name, image, and likeness (NIL),” said Barnhart. “We are appreciative of that support as it is a bridge until such time as state and/or federal laws are enacted. The landscape of college sports is now in the midst of dramatic and historic change – perhaps the biggest set of shifts and changes since scholarships were first awarded decades ago. What won’t change is our core and most important principle – the well-being and development of our student-athletes, while they are at UK and, as importantly, in preparing them for success in life, on whatever path they choose. We are extremely well-positioned to help our student-athletes navigate this new and complex terrain. Much of what we need to do to support students in terms of NIL – through The Kentucky Road initiative – has been in place for some time. We have a strong foundation, which we will now work to build on.”