diff --git a/api/include/opentelemetry/plugin/tracer.h b/api/include/opentelemetry/plugin/tracer.h
index e2f8bc79f8..b0223e639a 100644
--- a/api/include/opentelemetry/plugin/tracer.h
+++ b/api/include/opentelemetry/plugin/tracer.h
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ class Span final : public trace::Span
 
   bool IsRecording() const noexcept override { return span_->IsRecording(); }
 
-  trace::Tracer &tracer() const noexcept override { return *tracer_; }
-
 private:
   std::shared_ptr<trace::Tracer> tracer_;
   std::unique_ptr<trace::Span> span_;