Ohio State DE Noah Spence suspended, reportedly over drug test
Ohio State announced Friday that junior defensive end Noah Spence will not return to action as expected against Kent State on Saturday due to "a university and Big Ten conference rule violation" that has rendered him ineligible.
Spence had been suspended for three games late last season after testing positive for the drug ecstasy at the Big Ten Championship Game, a suspension that would have been lifted this week. But Spence's parents told the Columbus Dispatch that during a meeting with Urban Meyer, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and Spence on Thursday, they were informed that their son had "apparently tested positive for it again," in the Dispatch's words.
Greg and Helen Spence indicated that during the meeting, Noah admitted to further drug use. They told the Dispatch their son will undergo treatment for a "medical illness."
"We love him dearly, and our focus is to get him the best medical attention we can," the Spences wrote in an email to the paper. "We are hopeful that Noah can get healthy and, at some point, resume his career with the Buckeyes ... We are uncertain how long he will be ineligible, but we will work with Ohio State and the Big Ten until we have a final resolution."
Eleven Warriors also reported that Spence's suspension is due to a second failed drug test. Both outlets described Spence's Buckeye career as being "in jeopardy," with the suspension believed to be indefinite.
Spence's father told the media in January that Noah had explained his initial failed drug test by saying he had accidentally consumed a spiked drink at a party.
Spence earned both All-Big Ten and academic All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore, when the former five-star recruit collected a team-high 7.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 50 total tackles.
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