Log in

2 Clemson players suspended for season; NCAA rejects appeal

Posted 5/24/19

2 Clemson players suspended for season; NCAA rejects appeal

By PETE IACOBELLI , Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Clemson tight end Braden Galloway and offensive lineman Zach Giella will …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

2 Clemson players suspended for season; NCAA rejects appeal

Posted

2 Clemson players suspended for season; NCAA rejects appeal

By PETE IACOBELLI , Associated Press
(AP) — Clemson tight end Braden Galloway and offensive lineman Zach Giella will miss next season after an NCAA panel rejected the school's appeal of their drug suspension. Clemson athletic spokesman Jeff Kallin said Friday that the school learned of the NCAA decision on Wednesday. The school issued a statement that it is disappointed in the ruling and continues "to believe our student-athletes did not knowingly ingest any banned substances." However, Kallin said the school doesn't plan further action. The positive drug tests for Galloway, Giella and ex-Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence were announced in December while the Tigers were preparing to play Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. They were suspended and missed the College Football Playoff games, including the national championship game when the Tigers beat Alabama 44-16. All three players had denied knowingly taking the banned substance ostarine. Robert Ariail, the lawyer for Galloway and Giella, said in a statement Friday the NCAA's decision was an "unfair denial of our appeal." Clemson coach Dabo Swinney wouldn't elaborate on the NCAA decision, telling The Associated Press in a text message that "All been said." Lawrence was a junior who left early for the NFL draft and was taken 17th overall by the New York Giants. He also would've faced a yearlong ban had he remained with the Tigers. The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports upheld the suspensions. The United States Anti-Doping Agency says ostarine is a substance that "might be effective at treating different health conditions without resulting in the negative side effects of steroids." Ariail said that Galloway and Giella took and passed polygraph examinations and had negative drug tests in April and October 2018 and in January and February. Lawrence said during Clemson's pro day in March that he truthfully answered questions about the drug test when asked by NFL teams. Lawrence was a highly regarded NFL prospect and part of Clemson's "Power Rangers' defensive front that was among the best in college football last season. It was likely he would've gone pro even before the positive drug test. Galloway, a sophomore, was expected to compete for a starting tight end job this fall. He had five catches for 52 yards. Giella, a senior, is a reserve lineman. Clemson said Friday that the athletic department had administered 329 tests for performance-enhancing drugs since 2014 and all came back negative except for the three last December. The department said all supplements are reviewed with its athletics nutrition and sports medicine staff and Clemson's compliance office to ensure no banned substances are used. Ariail said the players' appeal included information from experts that the trace amounts of ostarine found indicated contamination from "legitimate products." "In this case, it is our strong belief that no violation occurred," he said. ___

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
newsletter