HOUSTON —  The NCAA has penalized Texas Southern for major violations in its softball and tennis programs.

The softball program was placed on four years of probation Wednesday and is banned from postseason play in 2009. The men's and women's tennis programs were disbanded in the spring of 2007 and will lose one scholarship in each of the next two academic years.

The tennis penalties may be irrelevant. Athletic director Charles McClelland said the school has no immediate plans to revive the tennis program.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions said Wednesday the former head coaches of the softball and tennis programs committed violations the school didn't detect. The violations included impermissible benefits and financial aid and lack of institutional control.

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