Several players on Liberty’s golf team were suspended for Tuesday’s District I tournament after an alleged incident of “bullying and harassment” at practice last week.

Stephen Guthrie, superintendent of the Carroll County Public Schools, handed down the suspensions for “bullying and harassment that falls outside the guidelines of the athletics handbook,” said Carey Gaddis, a school system spokeswoman.

Gaddis declined to expound on the offending behavior. She also said she would not name the students or say how many were involved due to privacy restrictions.

Two of the Lions’ top four players were reportedly among those suspended.

The Lions, who won the state Class 2A-1A championship in 2007, had been expected to contend for the district title Tuesday at Black Rock Golf Course in Hagerstown. The suspended players will not be able to play in the state tournament, because state rules mandate that golfers qualify through their district tournament. They will be allowed to play in the rest of the Lions’ regular-season matches.

The boys were not suspended from school, Gaddis said.