DENVER -- One of eight people appointed to investigate the football recruiting scandal at the University of Colorado has resigned.

Former FBI agent Kenneth Vardell was named to the panel Monday but offered to step down when it was revealed that he had a role in a police investigation related to the recruiting scandal. Vardell, 63, is now a private polygraph expert and gave a lie-detector test to a football player three years ago as part of a police investigation into a rape allegation.

He quit Tuesday but said the polygraph exam did not constitute a conflict of interest. Vardell, the father of an NFL player who describes himself as a consultant for investigators, said he was only doing his job.

"As a polygraph examiner I am a seeker of the truth," he said. "A conflict of interest suggests a bias. How can seeking the truth be a conflict of interest?"

Vardell gave the polygraph test to Marques Harris, a CU football player who pleaded guilty to giving alcohol to minors at an off-campus party in 2001. That party is at the heart of three federal lawsuits filed against the school by women who say they were raped at the party or afterward.

"Because I nominated Mr. Vardell, I called him and discussed with him his participation on the committee. He told me he has decided to withdraw," said Peter Steinhauer, chair of the CU Board of Regents. "That leaves seven members on the committee and is within the number of members that the board authorized. Unless three members of the board request it, I do not intend to call a special meeting of the board to reconsider the committee's membership. I believe that the committee members bring a diverse and valuable perspective and skills to the work of the committee."

The CU regents appointed the investigative commission to look into allegations that the football program used sex and alcohol to lure promising high school athletes.

There are also questions being raised about the impartiality of Church of God in Christ Bishop Phillip Porter. Porter is a member of Promise Keepers -- a religious organization geared toward men started by former CU football coach Bill McCartney.

Porter said, "If I cannot be trusted, I think the country is in trouble. I believe the clergy has to be trusted."

Regina Cowles, president of the Boulder chapter of the National Organization for Women, criticized Porter's connection to Promise Keepers and asked why no victim's advocate had been selected to the panel.

Others appointed to the commission Monday were former state Supreme Court justices Jean Dubofsky and Luis Rovira, attorney David Powell and Broomfield judge Jacqueline St. Joan. Joyce Lawrence is co-chairing the panel with another former lawmaker, Peggy Lamm.

Lawrence was criticized after suggesting the women put themselves at risk by attending the alcohol-fueled party.

The goal is for the panel to get back to the regents with its recommendations by April 30.

"I am deeply appreciative of the willingness of these individuals to dedicate the time and effort that the work of the committee will require. I think it is time for the board to step back and allow the committee to begin its work under the leadership of the co-chairs," said Steinhauer.

The group plans to hold its first meeting during the first week of March.

On Tuesday the panel also released a statement in response to the story that CU's former female placekicker said she was raped by a football teammate.

"It is inappropriate for the panel to comment on or respond to individual allegations and breaking news reports while conducting its investigation," Lamm and Lawrence said. "This panel was convened to conduct an independent investigation. We aren't trying to avoid the issue, but we cannot be distracted from our mission by responding to media inquiries about specific allegations. We hope the public and the press will respect that."

This is not the first recruiting scandal at CU. In 1962, there were allegations that CU football coaches paid cash to top recruits and their families. Twenty CU recruits were engulfed in the scandal and declared ineligible by the NCAA.

Coach Sonny Grandelius was fired, and CU president Quigg Newton resigned under scrutiny over the firing.

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