Syracuse will play their opening round game of the 2019 NCAA tournament on Thursday night, and potentially the entire tournament if they advance, without senior point guard Frank Howard as the school announced that he’s been suspended indefinitely. Now, sources say the suspension was due to a failed drug test.
THE DAILY ORANGE REPORTS THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS DUE TO A FAILED DRUG TEST:
Syracuse senior point guard Frank Howard has been suspended indefinitely because he failed a drug test before the NCAA Tournament, three people familiar with the situation told The Daily Orange on Wednesday night. It is unclear when the testing took place.
“The NCAA conducts testing at its championships, and year round on campus in Division I and II programs,” according to the NCAA website. “In addition, the majority of institutions conduct their own institutional testing programs independent of NCAA drug testing.”
Frank Howard suspended indefinitely due to violation of Syracuse athletic department policy: https://t.co/jGVr7ZCRHP pic.twitter.com/EI8nQWBFj7
— Daily Orange Sports (@DOsports) March 20, 2019
Breaking: Syracuse's Frank Howard will not play against Baylor in NCAA Tournament https://t.co/72d7sovhjT
— Syracuse Basketball (@syrbasketball) March 20, 2019
Some not so great news about Frank Howard. I’m sure more details will start to come out soon, but for now:
Starter Buddy is back and here to stay #CuseByAMillion
— Barstool Cuse (@BarstoolCuse) March 20, 2019
Frank Howard will not play in NCAA Tournament for an indefinite period of time due to violation of athletic department policy pic.twitter.com/UF770fNN7A
— Bleacher Report CBB (@br_CBB) March 20, 2019
SU officials say Sr. Guard Frank Howard will not play Thursday night and is out of NCAA Tournament indefinitely due to violation of athletic policy. Our @MLarsonSports is in SLC with team and will provide more as game time vs Baylor approaches Thursday night. More @SPECNewsCNY pic.twitter.com/NUy8JCEkkb
— Brad Vivacqua (@Brad_Vivacqua) March 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/DrewTweetsNow/status/1108480321543131136
Frank Howard of Syracuse will not play in NCAA Tournamrnt because of “violation of athletic department policy”
Duke Fans: ??♂️??♂️??♂️pic.twitter.com/HgMW0GSuwL
— Duke Hoops (@DukeBlueHoops) March 20, 2019
No. 8 seed Syracuse opens the NCAA tournament with a matchup against No. 9 seed Baylor on Thursday night as they play in Salt Lake City in a game that will tip at 9:57 p.m. EST.
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