The Fresno Bee ? Fresno State has received the NCAA’s supplemental letter of inquiry, a formal response to academic fraud violations within the men’s basketball program that were uncovered in February and later affirmed by the university.

The letter’s arrival marked the next step in a nearly three-year joint investigation Fresno State has conducted with the NCAA, college sports’ governing body.

The university announced Thursday it was preparing a written response to the NCAA on the issues outlined in the letter, which is presented only when the NCAA enforcement staff determines a major violation occurred.

Fresno State will makes its case at a hearing before the infractions committee this summer.

The 10-member committee meets six times per year and next convenes June 13-15 in Kansas City, Mo.

The NCAA issued an original letter of official inquiry July 24, 2002, concerning violations that included the following — men’s basketball players accepting free food from a Fresno restaurant; a men’s basketball player accepting cash from a representative of a Las Vegas sports agency; two initial eligibility violations (one men’s basketball player, one men’s soccer player); and a lack of institutional control.

The latter violation historically has been one of the most serious charges the NCAA will make.

Former Kansas University athletic director Al Bohl was Fresno State’s athletic director when the infractions occurred.