Report: Star Clemson DL, 2 other Tigers failed drug tests ahead of Cotton Bowl
As the Clemson Tigers prepare for the Cotton Bowl against Notre Dame, they got some very bad news on Christmas Eve.
Per a report on Monday, star DL Dexter Lawrence, OL Zach Giella and TE Braden Galloway all failed drug tests.
Reporter Jori Epstein tweeted on Monday afternoon that the players thought coach Dabo Swinney was joking with them when he informed them, but apparently it was not a joke:
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said NCAA notified DT Dexter Lawrence, OL Zach Giella & TE Braden Galloway they failed drug tests with sliver of ostarine. Players thought it was a joke at first. More clarity to come with B sample later in week
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 24, 2018
Per Stewart Mandel of The Athletic, if it was an NCAA drug test as reported, it triggers an automatic suspension:
If it’s an NCAA drug test they’re automatically suspended. https://t.co/zn82QRh3st
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 24, 2018
Ostarine is considered a performance-enhancing drug, but as mentioned in the original tweet, the players still have their B samples that may come back clean.
