East Carolina suspends RB Cooper

Mar 8, 2013 - 5:51 PM Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - East Carolina has suspended senior running back Vintavious Cooper after receiving a drug-related citation.

Pirates head coach Ruffin McNeill and athletics officials were notified Friday that Cooper had been issued a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession by the ECU police department late Thursday.

"We have conduct standards in place and our expectations are that those are followed to the letter, especially by seniors who are in leadership roles," said McNeill. "While Vintavious has been a model member of our program up until this point, no one is ever immune to the accountability process."

Cooper has been suspended indefinitely from all team-related activities. He started eight games last season and led the Pirates with 1,049 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.