The NBA has suspended the Milwaukee Bucks striker, Bobby Portis, for 25 games for violating the anti -drug policy of the league, the league announced Thursday, a prohibition that slips to the 2021 champion for most of the rest of the season.
Portis tested positive for drug tram, a medication used to treat severe pain in adults. It is a case that its representative, Mark Bartelstein by Priority Sports, said it was an accident.
“I am devastated by Bobby at this time because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications are incredibly significant,” Bartelstein said in a statement.
“Bobby involuntarily took a pain medication called Tramadol, thinking that he was taking a pain medication called Toradol. Toradol is an approved pain medication that has previously used and that teams and players use for pain and inflammation Sometimes. Painkiller, who said by mistake to Bobby was Toradol.
Portis will not appeal the suspension, Bartelstein said.
The suspension is a devastating blow for the Bucks, who are in fifth place at the ESE conference in 29-24 and now lose one of the main men of the NBA. Bucks have a place in the open list to make an immediate movement, while Portis will lose $ 2.85 million with the suspension of 25 games.
Portis will be eligible to return on April 8 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with four remaining games in the regular season. His suspension began with the 116-110 victory of the Bucks over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.
“I was dealing with an elbow injury and using a medication approved by the NBA for pain and inflammation,” Portis said in a statement published by the team. “During that time, I made an honest mistake and took an anti -inflammatory pill that reduces the pain that is not approved. I feel horrible and I recognize that I am responsible for what I put in my body.”
The Bucks coach, Doc Rivers, said that Portis’s positive test occurred “a long time ago”, without going into details. Rivers said he believed that punishment should not be so severe, given the circumstances.
“The rules are rules,” Rivers said. “I understand. I understand it. But there are also human circumstances and common sense for me. One thing that Bobby is not a cheater. For me, that is what we have to try, to discover how to change this a little. Because when it is clear … when [the names of the substances] They are so close, and it is clear, now you can say that the blood samples were the only moment, that you would think we could do something less severe. But we have this rule, if you do, you are out. That’s how it is. I feel bad for Bobby at many levels. “
Portis has averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 46 games, occupying the sixth place in annotations and second on boards from the bank among the NBA players. He has finished the first three to vote for the sixth prize for the man of the year in the last two seasons, and has totaled the second more points for a reserve in the last three years.
“I know Bobby, who is probably feeling that he is disappointing the team and could probably be ashamed, but at the end of the day, I know what Bobby is,” MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo said twice. “I know it will be ready. After these 25 games, it will be ready to come and finish the season with us and prepare for the playoffs because it is competitive. We need your competitive spirit.”
It has been a difficult season for Portis, who has already lost six games due to the death of his grandmother. Portis was also on the list of athletes who had their stolen homes, incidents that resulted in federal charges in Florida against seven men from Chile.
“What I said is that this will be an infernal story for you,” Rivers said.
Portis is in its tenth NBA season, after having spent half of that time with the Bucks. He is one of the remaining four players of the Bucks 2021 championship team, along with Antetokounmpo, Brook López and Pat Connaughton.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family and fans,” Portis said in his statement. “I give everything I have on the court and I will terribly miss games for the Bucks during this time. I will continue working hard and be ready for our long playoff career. Thank you for your support. I appreciate it more than you know.”
Associated Press’s information was used in this report.
