Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence received a three-game suspension because he tested positive for ecstasy prior to the Big Ten championship game, Spence’s father told Harrisburg, Pa. TV station WHTM.
Spence’s father said his son ingested it without knowing after someone gave him an open drink at a party. The elder Spence said the Big Ten initially ruled to suspend Spence a full year because it considers ecstasy a performance-enhancing drug, but the NCAA considers the drug a street drug and carries a lesser penalty, the TV station noted.
An appeal of the year-long suspension was made, and the Big Ten suspended Spence for three games. Spence’s father said a second appeal was made but denied.
Ohio State lost to Clemson 40-35 in the Orange Bowl. Because Spence only completed his sophomore season, he cannot enter the NFL Draft and will miss the first two games of 2014.
The Spence family plans to file a lawsuit vs. the Big Ten, the report said.