Noah Spence may ultimately miss the first couple games of the new season, but he’s not going to do so without a fight.
The Ohio State defensive lineman was slapped with a three-game suspension for violating an unspecified Big Ten rule, which reportedly involved testing positive for a dietary supplement. As it turns out, he actually tested positive for a small amount of ecstasy.
Through his father, however, Spence claims that the drug was, unbeknownst to him, slipped into his drink at a party prior to the positive test. Spence was tested before the Buckeyes’ Big Ten championship game appearance.
While the NCAA considers ecstasy a recreational drug, the Big Ten considers it to be a performance-enhancing drug and calls for a one-year suspension. An appeal reduced that suspension to three games -- the Orange Bowl, plus the first two games of the 2013 season. A second appeal by Spence aimed at having the three-game suspension lifted was denied.
Greg Spence, the defensive end’s dad, told WHTM-TV that they are planning to file a lawsuit against the Big Ten over the suspension.
As a sophomore 2013, Spence led the Buckeyes with 8.5 sacks and was second in tackles for loss with 14.5. If the suspension holds, Spence will miss games against Navy and Virginia Tech and would be eligible to return for the Sept. 13 game against Kent State.
