Four members of the Gophers wrestling team have been suspended until Jan. 1 "for violation of team rules," a spokesman for the university's athletic department said Wednesday.
The wrestlers are Tommy Thorn, Ethan Lizak, Larry Early III and Brandon Krone. All except Early are redshirtsophomores; Early is a redshirt freshman.
The four are suspended only from competing. They can attend class and can practice with the team, spokesman Jake Ricker said.
The university would not confirm whether the four were suspended in connection with the allegations of a drug ring involving more than a dozen wrestlers and the firing last month of coach J Robinson.
The suspension will put the four out of commission for roughly two months of the season, which begins Nov. 6. They would miss three tournaments, along with dual meets against South Dakota State, Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Michigan.
Because the four will be able to practice with the team, they could be able to return for the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Robinson, 70, the wrestling coach for 30 years, was fired Sept. 7 by athletic director Mark Coyle. The coach was placed on paid administrative leave and banished from campus in June.
Allegations of drug abuse and distribution of Xanax among Gophers wresters surfaced in May, but Robinson refused to implicate the affected athletes.
In announcing Robinson's firing, Coyle said, "I'm terminating Coach Robinson's contract because he was not forthcoming with his superiors when reporting his suspicions about selling and abusing prescription medication."
Robinson's teams won national titles in 2001, 2002 and 2007. He was named Big Ten coach of the year eight times and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.
Thorn, from St. Michael, placed fourth in the Big Ten at 141 pounds last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where he did not place. He enters the season ranked seventh at 141 by Intermatwrestle.com.
Lizak, from Schnecksville, Pa., sat out last season as a redshirt. He placed seventh in the Big Ten at 125 pounds in 2014-15 and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where he did not place.
Krone, from Anoka, went 11-13 at 165 pounds last season and did not place in the Big Ten tournament.
Early, from Oak Park, Ill., sat out last season as a redshirt but went 10-4 while wrestling unattached at 157 pounds.
