FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Per a statement from Ohio State, sophomore defensive end Noah Spence has violated a Big Ten rule and will be suspended for three games, starting with Friday night's Orange Bowl. Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch reported Spence's suspension is due to the use of a banned dietary supplement. The Big Ten declined to comment when asked by Eleven Warriors to expand on details surrounding Spence's suspension. A phone call to Spence's parents from Eleven Warriors went unanswered.
Spence did not make the trip to Miami with the team earlier this week, with Urban Meyer and a university spokesman saying he was dealing with "personal issues," but he may be available for the game. His loss is a big one for the Buckeyes, though they do have good depth on the defensive line.
The full statement:
It has been determined that Ohio State University sophomore Noah Spence has violated a Big Ten Conference rule and he has been suspended for three games, starting with the Discover Orange Bowl this Friday.
Spence's parents, who did not agree with the rule violation nor the penalty imposed, were assisted by the Ohio State Department of Athletics in exhausting the appeals process that was available to them with the Big Ten.
Spence is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and an OSU Scholar-Athlete. He will continue course work toward his sociology degree next semester and he will be able to practice with the team this spring, but he will not be eligible to play in a game until Ohio State’s third game of the 2014 season, Sept. 13 vs. Kent State.
The Department of Athletics will have no further comment on this issue.
