Arkansas, UCLA’s opponent in the Jan. 2...

Arkansas, UCLA’s opponent in the Jan. 2 Cotton Bowl at Dallas, is trying to end a controversy over the dismissal of two Razorback players.

John Stucky, Arkansas strength coach, said steroid use was not the reason Wayne Martin and Freddie Childress were suspended Friday by Coach Ken Hatfield.

Hatfield said only that the two broke a team rule, but he declined to elaborate.

“It is not steroids,” Stucky said.

Starters of No. 8 Arkansas (10-2) were tested Dec. 7 by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. as part of its standard pre-bowl game procedure.

Neither Childress nor Martin was expected to be with the team when it reported to Dallas this week.

Arkansas officials have left the decision to disclose the reason for the suspensions to Childress and Martin.

Neither could be reached for comment.