LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas’ renowned track and field program lost two national championships yesterday when the NCAA imposed stiff sanctions for violations involving sprint star Tyson Gay and a former assistant coach.

The Razorbacks also received three years’ probation. University Chancellor John White said the school plans to appeal.

“As we previously acknowledged, the violations in this case primarily involved a rogue former assistant coach and one student-athlete over a short period of time,” White said. “We are disappointed with the penalties imposed by the infractions committee and believe they are disproportionate to the violations.”

Razorbacks coach John McDonnell has built one of the top college programs in any sport over more than three decades with the school. Arkansas has won 40 national titles in track and field and cross country, not counting the two that were taken away from the 2004 and 2005 men’s outdoor track and field championships.

Arkansas had self-reported violations committed by former assistant Lance Brauman, who was convicted last year of embezzlement, theft and mail fraud. The convictions stemmed from his time at Barton County Community College in Kansas, part of a scandal that spawned charges against seven Barton County coaches and the athletic director and led to the firing of the school’s president. Brauman was coaching Arkansas when he was convicted.