Reports today — initially via Sonny Shipp at Geaux247, and later Andrew Lopez at NOLA.com — indicate that some progress has been made regarding the case of LSU sophomore cornerback Kristian Fulton, who is currently facing the second of a two-year suspension for attempting to circumvent NCAA drug-testing procedures.
Lopez, in speaking with Fulton’s attorney, Don Jackson, reports that the NCAA has agreed to hear the player’s request for reconsideration of his case.
Jackson told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune on Tuesday afternoon that a “request for reconsideration based on new evidence” was officially filed with the NCAA a few weeks ago and an answer could come in 2-3 weeks, possibly sooner.
Per Ross Dellenger’s Sports Illustrated report, Fulton was accused of attempting to substitute somebody else’s urine to an NCAA test for performance-enhancing drugs near the end of the 2016 season. When caught by the NCAA tester, Fulton poured out the substitute sample and provided his own, which tested clean in terms of the NCAA’s parameters (no performance-enhancing drugs in his system).
Based on new evidence Jackson is presenting to the NCAA, he feels optimistic he could hear something before the season.
Jackson also says there is a new contact person on the case, and there are plans for a committee to evaluate the new evidence in the near future. Jackson believes an answer could come within 2-3 weeks but possibly even sooner.
The mere fact that the NCAA is willing to listen is certainly a positive for Fulton — and I can’t remember any recent instance of the organization offering such a courtesy for an individual — but of course, there is no guarantee the committee would be willing to lessen his suspension, which would carry through the 2018 season.
Fulton is a former five-star recruit from the class of 2016 out of Archbishop Rummel in New Orleans, and should he become eligible would likely slide into the starting cornerback position opposite Greedy Williams for LSU. Fulton has remained practicing with the Tigers throughout the process, and will have two more years of eligibility remaining regardless of his fate for 2018.
But having him back would certainly help the major question mark for LSU’s defense at the present.