Tight end for Ohio State suspended after testing positive for illegal substance.
The Ohio State football tight end Bennett Christian learned the hard way that there is a thin line separating using a supplement that is approved by the NCAA and one that isn’t.
Following a positive test for an illegal substance, the redshirt freshman for the Buckeyes faces a season-long suspension. Christian acknowledged the error on X, the website that was originally known as Twitter.
To ensure that the medication he was taking would be okay, all he needed to do was to follow up with the training personnel, but he didn’t. He will now have to miss the entire season. Christian stated that he is learning from the experience. “This year, my goal is to be the best teammate I can be, and to continue to help this initiative, of which I am incredibly appreciative to be a part.
After testing positive for a prohibited supplement in January, the redshirt freshman Ohio State tight end faces a full 2023 season suspension. Christian will not be able to play for the Buckeyes this season since he is ineligible to play for a year following the date of the test, according per NCAA regulations.
Christian released a statement on Monday that read, “I’d like to share the news that I took a supplement that contained a banned substance and I will be ineligible to compete for the Buckeyes for the entire 2023 football season.” “Under NCAA testing procedures, I tested positive in January of this year, and I won’t be eligible again until January of next year.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73001456/usa_today_21379491.0.jpg)
I regret putting myself in this situation and am even more disappointed in myself for disappointing my family, coaching staff, and teammates. I acknowledge accountability for my deeds and for the suspension. The staff at Ohio State does a fantastic job teaching us. If I had asked our training team about the supplement and made sure it was allowed by policy, I could have easily prevented this. That will always be remembered as a lesson, and moving forward, all athletes should be mindful of it.
“This year, I want to be the greatest teammate I can be and keep supporting this programme, of which I am incredibly appreciative to be a part. I’m excited to come back in 2024.
Christian, a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, played nine offensive snaps in two games as a true freshman. Christian was not anticipated to play a significant part this year, with Cade Stover, Joe Royer, and Gee Scott Jr. anticipated to head the tight end depth chart with Jelani Thurman pushing for instant playing time as a true freshman.
Ohio State currently has five scholarship tight ends available for the 2023 campaign: Stover, Royer, Scott, Thurman, and Sam Hart. Christian’s suspension has caused this change.
