KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee Athletics department has announced the dismissal of senior guard Ruby Whitehorn from the Lady Vols basketball team.

This decision follows Whitehorn’s recent charge of simple possession, which occurred Thursday morning, shortly after the team’s victory over Columbus State. Previously, Whitehorn had entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor trespassing and aggravated vandalism in connection to a domestic incident last August. Although she faced a temporary suspension at the time, she was reinstated to the team in September.

Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Caldwell stated, “My responsibility is to maintain the high standards of our historic program. Given recent events, Ruby has struggled to meet those standards, leading me to make the tough decision to remove her from our team. I care deeply for Ruby and will continue to support her from afar, but my first duty is to protect the esteemed reputation of the Lady Vols.”

Whitehorn posted on Instagram saying she appreciated the support of her coaches and teammates. She thanked her friends, her family and Vol fans.

In a statement of her own, Whitehorn acknowledged, “I have not lived up to the Lady Vol legacy and its values, and I sincerely apologize for that. With everything that has transpired this year, I am dedicating time to focus on my mental health and self-improvement.”