Athletes sneak away with the cookie, get a slap on the wrist and continue on their merry way. Former Michigan safety Marcus Ray was suspended for six games in 1998 when the university learned of his dealings with an agent. Ray played the first two games of the season, sat out six, then came back and played again. Mo Collins was suspended for six games in 1996 after accepting money from an agent. All he did was come back in November and win a national championship ring.
Athletes know what they're doing.
They talk to agents, they manipulate agents. They take money from multiple agents knowing they're not going to sign, anyway. The risk is worth the reward. It's not a tough choice. If you want to stop the influence of sports agents, you don't allow it to fester.