Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson suspended 25 games for violating NBA’s drug policy with positive tests
Thompson spent his first nine seasons as a pro with the Cavs before bouncing around. He’s also played with Boston, Sacramento, Indiana, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers
Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA on Tuesday for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
According to the league, the 32-year-old Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren, a growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, commonly used by body builders and weight lifters for muscle enhancement.
Thompson will begin serving his suspension Wednesday when the Cavs, who have won eight straight games, play the first of two in three days at Milwaukee. There was no immediate comment from Thompson or the Cavs.
During the suspension, Thompson is allowed to travel and practice. The only restriction is that he must be out of the arena at least two hours prior to tipoff for any games.
Thompson is in his second stint with the Cavs, who originally drafted the Canadian with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The 6-foot-11 Thompson has become a beloved player in Cleveland. He was a member of the 2016 NBA championship team, which won the city’s first major pro sports title since 1964.
Thompson spent his first nine seasons as a pro with the Cavs before bouncing around. He’s also played with Boston, Sacramento, Indiana, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Cavs re-signed him as a free agent to a one-year contract before this season. He’s only averaging 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 12 minutes, but Thompson has also helped Cleveland navigate a spate of injuries.
Cleveland has been without starters Darius Garland (broken jaw) and forward Evan Mobley (knee surgery) since mid-December, but the Cavs have played their best ball without them, and at 26-15 have moved into the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Garland was cleared to resume on-court workouts last week after he had the wiring removed from his jaw, and Mobley has increased his activity of late. Both players are expected back in the lineup at some point next month.
Thompson had four points and five rebounds in Cleveland’s 126-99 win at Orlando on Monday night.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition
Tu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo
¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción?
Si continúas leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podrá leer en el otro.
FlechaTu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PAÍS desde un dispositivo a la vez.
Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium, así podrás añadir otro usuario. Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS.
En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí.
Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital.
