Hope Solo Suspended for 30 Days

The U.S. Women’s National Team remained tight-lipped as it suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo for 30 days, refusing to reveal the reason for its decision.The team would only acknowledge that the suspension derived from “an incident that occurred during the current WNT training camp being held in Carson, California.”

Coach Jill Ellis stated, “During our current National Team camp, Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on U.S. Soccer and her teammates. We feel at this time it is best for her to step away from the team.”

The incident in question may have occurred on Monday, when Solo’s husband, former Seattle Seahawk Jerramy Stevens, received a DUI in Manhattan Beach, according to the Los Angeles Times. Manhattan Beach sits roughly 12 miles from Carson.

The U.S. Women’s National Team has games scheduled in February with France and England; Solo will miss both games as a result of the suspension.

Solo was accused of domestic assault involving her nephew and sister last June; the charges were dropped when her lawyer could not depose prosecution witnesses. The police statement alleged that the nephew and sister had visible injuries, and that Solo was the “primary aggressor and had instigated the assault.”

U.S. Coach Greg Ryan benched Solo at the 2007 World Cup semifinals and followed by separating her from the team. After she slammed his decision, he sent her home separately from China. In 2011, Solo appeared on Dancing with the Stars and consistently argued with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy and the judging panel. In 2012, she became the first woman in the history of the women’s team to receive a warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, testing positive for Canrenone, which she said came from a prescribed premenstrual medication. That same year, she tweeted a series of messages blasting Olympic soccer commentator Brandi Chastain for criticizing defender Rachel Buehler.

Solo responded to her suspension 30-day by stating on Facebook, “I accept and respect the Federation’s decision, and more importantly, I apologize for disappointing my teammates, coaches and the Federation who have always supported me. I think it’s best for me to take a break, decompress from the stress of the last several months, and come back mentally and physically ready to positively contribute to the team.”

Solo won Olympic gold medals twice and played with the 2007 and 2011 World Cup teams.