TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) dealt a heavy blow Thursday to Gadsden County when it shut down the school and coaches’ appeals for a serious set of sanctions.

As part of the appeal, Head Football Coach Russell Ellington and Superintendent Elijah Key asked the FHSAA Infractions Appeals Committee to grant them relief on a $21,000 fine and to roll back a decision to ban the school from competing in the postseason .

They argued that the school has taken steps to reform and that the remaining student-athletes should not be punished.

But the committee ultimately denied their requests, deciding to keep the sanctions in place. Ellington’s appeal was unanimously denied, and the high school’s was denied 3-1.

Last month, the FHSAA accused the

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