The NBA has suspended Bobby Portis for 25 video games for violating the league’s anti-drug coverage, the league introduced Thursday, sidelining him for nearly the remainder of the season.
The Bucks ahead examined constructive for the drug tramadol, a drugs used to deal with extreme ache amongst adults. It’s an occasion that his consultant, Mark Bartelstein of Precedence Sports activities, stated was an accident.
“I’m devastated for Bobby proper now as a result of he made an sincere mistake and the ramifications of it are extremely vital,” Bartelstein advised ESPN.
“Bobby unintentionally took a ache medicine referred to as tramadol, considering he was taking a ache medicine referred to as Toradol. Toradol is an authorised ache medicine that he has used beforehand and that groups and gamers use for ache and irritation at instances. Tramadol, nonetheless, shouldn’t be an authorised ache medicine and was only in the near past added to the banned substance listing this previous spring. The tramadol tablet he took got here from an assistant of his, with a legitimate prescription for the painkiller, which he mistakenly advised Bobby was Toradol. This was, once more, an sincere mistake that was made due to the similarity within the names of the medicine and the very fact they each serve a really comparable goal. Bobby was utilizing this anti-inflammatory pain-reducing medicine to take care of an elbow harm he had this previous fall and believed he was taking Toradol to alleviate some ache in preparation for that evening’s recreation.”
The assertion went on to clarify Portis’ nice repute across the league and ensure he doesn’t abuse medicine.
“Bobby Portis is completely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein continued. “Bobby works tirelessly on growing his efficiency in all pure, authorized, wholesome methods, however he made a mistake and took a tablet that unknowingly he mustn’t have.
“In the present day, on this occasion, I’m so deeply disenchanted that the NBA chooses to interpret its coverage so strictly, and that the coverage doesn’t permit for a special outcome for an sincere mistake with pure intentions.”
Portis “will settle for this penalty with grace,” the assertion stated.
The 2021 champion will likely be eligible to return on April 8 towards the Timberwolves – with simply 4 video games left within the common season.
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