'We are deeply sorry': Suspended LU men's basketball players

The five suspended players from Laurentian University men's basketball team in Sudbury, Ont., have issued an apology for their roles in an off-campus, unsanctioned team event that violated the athlete code of conduct. 

In a statement from the university issued Friday, the players stated: "We acknowledge that our behaviour as leaders on our team and our campus was inappropriate. For this we are deeply sorry."

However at this point, the university has not elaborated on what exactly happened.

The players participated in a team party at a friend's parents' home on September 24. The event did not bring about any complaints, according to the university's communications department, but somehow the school's administration caught wind of it.

The players told CBC News through their legal counsel more than two weeks ago that there was no coercion and no one was injured at the party. At the time, the players said they had not yet received the written allegations against them. 

In-camera hearings were recently held at the university to discuss the suspensions. 

The statement goes on to say the players take full responsibility for their actions. 

Not all players rejoining team until after new year

"We accept the discipline that has been imposed on us by virtue of our actions as being fair and reasonable," they wrote. 

"We will not all be rejoining our teammates until after the new year, but look forward to cheering them on in the intervening period.

"Our commitment to our campus, our fellow students, our teammates, and our community is that we will continue to learn from this, and that we will be leaders in fostering a positive, respectful culture on campus and in the community."

The university and the players will not comment further or share further details about the incident "out of respect for the privacy of the people involved," according to the school's communications department.