Senate Bill Aims to Allow International College Athletes to Profit from NIL in the U.S.

International college athletes are currently unable to profit from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in the U.S. due to visa restrictions. However, a bipartisan bill in the Senate aims to change this. The bill, introduced by Sens. Pete Ricketts and Richard Blumenthal, would grant international student-athletes access to NIL deals on U.S. soil.

Currently, international student-athletes attending college in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa are prohibited from working for pay, which means they are unable to take advantage of the recent NIL rules in collegiate athletics. This has impacted student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin, such as basketball player Markus Ilver and volleyball player Anna Smrek, who hail from Estonia, Canada, Turkey, and Poland, respectively.

NIL payments, which can be for services such as autographs, live appearances, or social media advertisements, have become a lucrative opportunity for college athletes. However, international student-athletes have been left out of this opportunity due to visa restrictions.

The bill introduced in the Senate aims to level the playing field and ensure that international student-athletes can pursue the same opportunities as their American peers. This includes being able to make appearances, host camps, and sign deals with companies for pay. According to news reports, NCAA athletes in the Bahamas and Mali have already made significant earnings through NIL deals.

The bill faces an uncertain future as it has been referred to the judiciary committee for debate. Nevertheless, the proposed legislation has the potential to make a significant impact on the ability of international student-athletes to profit from their athletic prowess while studying in the U.S.

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