The Penn State athletic department plans to investigate the circumstances of former Nittany Lions men's gymnast Matt Abboud posing in an issue of Playgirl, Penn State intercollegiate compliance coordinator John Bove said yesterday.

Abboud -- who is no longer with the team but is still enrolled at Penn State -- is on the cover of the November issue of Playgirl and featured in the magazine's "Campus Hunks" segment.

By posing for the magazine, Abboud may have been in violation of NCAA amateur regulations.

The regulations state that athletes can not use their image to influence the "sale, promotion or use of any commercial product." If an athlete breaks these rules, that person is declared ineligible for subsequent intercollegiate athletic competition. The NCAA considers any type of modeling a violation of this policy, even if the athlete was not paid and the sale of the magazine itself was the only thing being promoted, NCAA compliance officers said.

It is unclear if Abboud, who has exhausted his four years of eligibility, posed for the magazine while he was a member of the Penn State men's gymnastics team or prior to the end of his collegiate career last spring.

"We just learned about it and we're looking into it," Bove said. "I'm going to ask [Abboud] when he posed."

Abboud is currently studying abroad and could not be reached for comment yesterday. Playgirl was contacted but deferred comment to its editor in chief, who was out of the office yesterday.

If Abboud did pose for the magazine while he was still a member of the team, he would have to return any money he made by doing the shoot or donate it to a charity of his choice to have his eligibility reinstated.

Since Abboud's eligibility has already ended, the only way the men's gymnastics program could be punished is if Abboud modeled while a member of the team and refused to give up the money he made by posing.

If that were to happen, the men's gymnastics team might have to forfeit any wins Abboud participated in subsequent to posing for the magazine, similar to when the NCAA declared NBA player Chris Webber ineligible after he left the University of Michigan, Bove said.

Questions of eligibility aside, Penn State men's gymnastics coach Randy Jepson was not pleased to hear one of his former players was featured nude in an issue of Playgirl.

"It's a problem even though he's not still an athlete," Jepson said. "It reflects very poorly on the university, the department and the team."

"That's something he is going to have to deal with."

In the magazine, Abboud is identified as "Steven," a Penn State senior majoring in management and international business. "Steven's" listing for his extra-curricular activities said: "I am a gymnist [sic]."

Jepson confirmed that the individual pictured in the magazine is in fact the former member of his squad.

"Yes, that was just recently brought to light," Jepson said, when asked if he knew Abboud had posed in Playgirl.

Jepson did not know when Abboud modeled for the magazine.

Bove said he has not dealt with a case of this nature before and was not sure what impact, if any, Abboud's posing could have on any financial aid Abboud might still be receiving.