diff --git a/litellm/router.py b/litellm/router.py
index c7cff4ba412..8636f6684a9 100644
--- a/litellm/router.py
+++ b/litellm/router.py
@@ -1518,6 +1518,11 @@ class Router:
         if "metadata" not in silent_kwargs:
             silent_kwargs["metadata"] = {}
 
+        # OTel spans are not safe to use across event loops. The silent
+        # experiment runs in a new event loop, so strip the span to prevent
+        # cross-loop tracing races or span corruption.
+        silent_kwargs["metadata"].pop("litellm_parent_otel_span", None)
+
         silent_kwargs["metadata"]["is_silent_experiment"] = True
 
         # Force stream=False so the response is fully consumed and callbacks fire
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/test_router_silent_experiment.py b/tests/test_litellm/test_router_silent_experiment.py
index 6be95ca91aa..24f574a4f8b 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/test_router_silent_experiment.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/test_router_silent_experiment.py
@@ -73,7 +73,11 @@ def test_get_silent_experiment_kwargs():
     # so that setting model_group / is_silent_experiment on the silent dict
     # doesn't corrupt the primary call's metadata.
     assert result["metadata"] is not kwargs["metadata"]
-    # Original metadata must NOT be mutated
+    # OTel span must be stripped from the silent copy — it's not safe to use
+    # across event loops (silent experiment runs in a new event loop).
+    assert "litellm_parent_otel_span" not in result["metadata"]
+    # Original metadata must NOT be mutated — must carry the real span,
+    # not safe_deep_copy's temporary "placeholder" string.
     assert "is_silent_experiment" not in kwargs["metadata"]
     assert kwargs["metadata"]["litellm_parent_otel_span"] is mock_span
     assert kwargs["metadata"]["user_api_key_auth"] is mock_auth