Tennessee refutes ESPN analyst’s claim that Vols’ Evan Russell missed game due to failed drug test

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University of Tennessee baseball player Evan Russell was not in the lineup Friday for the Vols’ NCAA tournament game against Alabama State. 

Prior to the game, the Tennessee baseball program announced that Russell would miss the game and that head coach Tony Vitello would address the situation following the game. 

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello signals to the bullpen during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs May 21, 2022, at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium in Starkville, Miss.  (Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As the game between the Vols and the Hornets played out, ESPN broadcaster Troy Eklund was announcing the NCAA tournament game between Missouri State and Oklahoma State and made unsubstantiated claims about Russell's absence.

"Yeah, it was pretty crazy," Eklund said during the broadcast. "Failed a drug test, so Evan Russell is suspended for the rest of the season. 

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"Tennessee is gonna have the whole resort of the team tested tomorrow, or the NCAA is. So, it’s going to be interesting to see if that’s just a one-player thing or that’s throughout that whole entire program. Performance-enhancing drugs is what it was said."

The University of Tennessee released a statement Saturday morning saying Russell did not violate any rules and that it has been in contact with ESPN over the comments made on air. 

Tennessee Volunteers players celebrate a home run during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs May 21, 2022, at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium in Starkville, Miss.  (Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire