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    by admin in NBA | Comments Off on Suspensions in NBA over Drug Issues

    Over the year, so many NBA players have been found guilty of using  banned drugs and violating the league’s anti-drug policy. As a result, many players have also been suspended by the NBA, some of them are listed below:

    Chris Andersen

    Denver Nuggets forward Chris Andersen stared his professional career in 1999, overseas, for Chinese club. In 2001, he made his debut in NBA by playing with Denver Nuggets.  On January 25, 2006, Chris Andersen was banned from the NBA for using drugs and violating league’s anti drug policy. He had to wait for two years to become eligible for reinstatement. On March 4, 2008, Andersen made his way back into the league and re-sighed by the New Orleans Hornets the next day.

    OJ Mayo

    OJ Mayowas taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008. He preferred to enter NBA instead of completing his studies. But without playing a single game for Minnesota, he was traded to Memphis Grizzlies. On January 27, 2011, NBA suspended Mayo for 10 games after positive doping test for steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mayo blamed an energy drink for the whole scenario which he bought at a gas station he didn’t know that drink contained a banned substance.

    Jay Edwards

    Jay Edwards, former Indiana University guard, went on to be drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1989. He played only 4 games for the Clippers when he was tested positive in a dope test. On March 1990, he was suspended from the league and never played professional basketball again. He was the third rookie suspended in 1990 for failing a drug test. Stanley Brundy and Roy Marble were the others.

    Roy Marble

    Roy Marble appeared to be a talented player who had the potential to succeed at the professional level but he could not reach to its full potential as he battled drug-related issues throughout his life. He was suspended by the NBA during his rookie season in 1990 for violating the substance abuse policy. He briefly appeared in 1994 with the Denver Nuggets and it was the last year of his NBA career. In June 2006, he was pleaded guilty to drunk driving. Then in 2009, he was pulled over for speeding. During the search police found a bag of marijuana and blunts of marijuana. He was charged for multiple offences including possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

    David Harrison

    David Harrison received a five-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy on January 11, 2008. He admitted of smoking weed but the suspension made him upset as he believed that the league should not look into his off-court behavior except in the case of performance-enhancing drugs.

    Stanley Roberts

    Stanley Roberts started his professional career overseas, with Real Madrid in 1990. Next year, he was drafted by the Orlando Magic. He played eight seasons in NBA, all while battling hard injuries and weight issues. He suffered another setback in 1999 when he was expelled from the NBA for drug violations after testing positive for a prohibited drug. He tried to make a comeback by joining Toronto Raptors in 2003 but he was waived shortly after without playing a single game.

    Rodney Buford

    Rodney Buford was arrested, charged and suspended for drug possession on numerous counts. Firstly in May 1999, he was arrested for marijuana possession and for drunken driving. As a result his driving licence was cancelled for six months, was given probation and was ordered to pay fine and to attend alcohol awareness class. Few months later, in November he was again found guilty to the drug possession. In 2000, he repeated the same mistake for the third time. He faced 5-game suspension in 2002, for violating NBA substance abuse policy. In 2003, while playing overseas, he again suspended for drug violations. In 2006, he was banned by International basketball federation for three months after failing a drug test. 

    Jason C. Williams

    Jason C. Williams was a basketball player, known for flashy playing style. Aside from his basketball achievements, he was notorious for his erratic public behavior and had drug problems throughout his life. He was suspended from the school due to his drug use. He was kicked out of the University of Florida’s team because of his marijuana smoking. In his professional career, he was tested positive twice for marijuana. In November 2000, he was suspended for five games by the NBA for failing to comply with the drug treatment plan.

    Maurice Taylor

    Maurice Taylor faced a five-game suspension for violating NBA anti-drug program in 2006. It was the third violation of the Taylor’s career. His first came in December, 2001 when he admitted to smoking marijuana and served a five-game suspension. The second one came in 2003, leaving him suspended for 10 games but later on, suspension was reduced to 6 games. 

    Brad Miller

    Brad Miller struggled throughout his career with severe injuries. He hardly completed a full seasonas in his career. On July 10, 2008, he failed drug test for a third time because of the use of marijuana and was suspended by the NBA for five games. Brad Miller said he smoked pot to cope with the stress of playing and to help him sleep.  

    Darius Miles

    Darius Miles was playing for Boston Celtics in 2008 when he was tested positive for drugs that brought an automatic penalty of 10-game. It was said that he used some slimming pills to get rid of the extra weight.  

    Matt Geiger

    Matt Geiger had a successful college basketball career that earned him a place in Miami Heat roster in 1992. He was an impressive player on the court but never remain injury free for the majority of his career. In 2001, he received a two-game suspension for violating the NBA’s steroids policy and he was not paid during the suspension. His injuries forced him to retire in 2002 after spending 10 years in NBA.

    Ricky Davis

    In December, 2008, Ricky Davis was given a five-game suspension by the NBA for violating the terms of substance abuse policy. Before the suspension actually announced, there were whispers that Davis was using drugs.

    Soumaila Samake

    Soumaila Samake, a Malian player was selected by the New Jersey Nets in 2000 NBA Draft. While playing with the Lakers in 2002, he was suspended for five games after testing positive for Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Samake stated that he had accidentally ingested the substance. He had taken a dietary supplement that contained Nandrolone, a substance banned by the NBA.

    Brandon Rush

    In August 2010, Brandon Rush was suspended over drugs. He could not clear the drug test for the third time and received a five game suspension for violating the NBA anti drug program.

    Orlando Woolridge

    Orlando Woolridge had a cocaine dependency problem. After playing 19 games of 1987-88 season, he was suspended from the league for his serious drugs-related problems and also fined $22,500. He was later admitted to a drug rehabilitation clinic for 51 days along with six months of follow-up treatment. The League also announced that he will remain suspended until he successfully completes an in-patient treatment program.




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