January 28, 200620 yr http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2308918 NEW YORK -- New Orleans Hornets forward Chris Andersen was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA on Friday for violating the league's drug policy. Andersen must wait two years before he can apply for reinstatement, the league said. According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, a player can only be disqualified for a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, or a first positive test for "drugs of abuse." The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP. Andersen has not previously been suspended for steroid use. Andersen, 27, averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32 games this season, his fifth in the NBA. He played three seasons for the Nuggets before joining the Hornets. He has a four-year, $14 million contract with the Hornets through the 2008-09 season that pays him $3.5 million a year. Hornets owner George Shinn said in a statement released by the team, "we were obviously disappointed and saddened to hear that Chris has been dismissed from the league. "On behalf of his teammates, coaches and the entire organization, we wish him well and hope he learns from this experience," Shinn said. Known as "Birdman" for his high-flying dunks, Andersen was a favorite among Hornets fans in Oklahoma City, where the team is playing most of its home games this season. Neither the NBA nor the union is allowed to comment on specifics of a player's drug test. "The players' association plans on filing a grievance on Chris Andersen's behalf," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said. "Our expectation is that a grievance hearing will take place in approximately two weeks." The hearing will be heard by an independent grievance arbitrator. Andersen played in 67 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is best known for his performance in the NBA's dunk contest last year when he needed eight tries to finish his first dunk. Andersen is the first player kicked out because of drugs since Stanley Roberts in 1999. Players who test positive for steroids or performance enhancing drugs, masking agents and diurectics get a 10-game suspension (1st offense), a 25-game suspension (2nd offense), a one-year suspension (3rd offense) and disqualification (4th offense). Marijuana penalties are a $25,000 fine (2nd offense), a five-game suspension (3rd offense), a 10-game suspension (4th offense), and five additional games for each subsequent violation. I almost want to put money down that it is Meth.
January 28, 200620 yr QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 08:43 AM) http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2308918 I almost want to put money down that it is Meth. I would agree, but they didn't publicly say what it was yet, or did they?
January 28, 200620 yr Proving what we already knew, his imfamous effort in the dunk contest where he missed like 7 times was drug induced.
January 28, 200620 yr Author QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 12:06 PM) I would agree, but they didn't publicly say what it was yet, or did they? I dont think it will be revealed either. I think it is in the CBA that an "abuse" drug is not to be revealed.
January 28, 200620 yr This is really sad. Getting kicked out of the NBA for drug use is hard. It'd be like getting kicked out of the Wu Tang Clan for drug use.
January 28, 200620 yr lol, at least the NBA was smart enough to give a ton of chances for marijuana, because half the league would be gone if they were harder on that.
January 28, 200620 yr He wasn't really suspended, he was kicked out. He can apply for reinstatement in 2 years, but that still wouldn't make this a suspension
January 28, 200620 yr Author QUOTE(Felix @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 03:07 PM) He wasn't really suspended, he was kicked out. He can apply for reinstatement in 2 years, but that still wouldn't make this a suspension Po-Tay-Toe Po-Tah-Toe
January 28, 200620 yr Author QUOTE(Leonard Zelig @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 03:53 PM) Meth is for poor WT people. NBA players can afford good coke. Coke doesnt keep you as high, as long as meth does. It could be alot of different things really, the list of "abuse" drugs encompasses alot. He could have been on X or LSD for all we know.
January 28, 200620 yr QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 04:42 PM) If its meth, does that make the birdman the new iceman? haha maybe, but I do think we'll have to clip his wings so this doesn't happen again. We don't want him to get too high or anything. Edited January 28, 200620 yr by WilliamTell
January 29, 200620 yr I'd put my money on Heroine or Coke. 2 years seems a little harsh, if this guy has a problem maybe they should suspsend him for the year and then only reinstate him if he does rehab and remains clean for a period of time. Two years from now his NBA money will be gone and he'll be so messed up he has no chance of returning.
January 30, 200620 yr If we was averaging 27 a night, he'd still be around. The league loves to find a mid range, somewhat known player, and look tough on drugs. I wonder if he can get a book deal and appear on Oprah?
January 30, 200620 yr QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2006 -> 06:22 AM) If we was averaging 27 a night, he'd still be around. The league loves to find a mid range, somewhat known player, and look tough on drugs. I wonder if he can get a book deal and appear on Oprah? Isn't that what the MLB did? An aging star who doesn't contribute much at the moment? They certainly didnt grill former mega stars Sosa and McGwire enough IMO. If you'll look at any league, thats the way they go, after the "happy medium" of players.
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