Four members of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling team are suspended for three months.
The U confirmed to GoMN the wrestlers will be banned from competing for the team until January, for “violations of team rules.”
They have been identified by FOX 9 as sophomores Tommy Thorn, Brandon Krone and Ethan Lizak, and redshirt freshman Larry Early.
A search warrant seen by the TV station says the four wrestlers were investigated over the sale of the prescription drug Xanax.
It was an investigation that led to the ouster of longtime coach J Robinson earlier this year.
According to a two-page letter Athletic Director Mark Coyle sent to Robinson, the coach’s acts of misconduct included:
- A failure to disclose drug related activity by team members.
- Disposing of drugs that student athletes turned over to him.
- Making promises of confidentiality and amnesty to student athletes that he was not authorized to make.
- Disobeying reasonable directives to share information regarding the drug-related activities of wrestling team members with Coyle and the University.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office decided against prosecuting due to lack of evidence.
