Deutscher Basketball Bund (DBB), the German Basketball Federation, has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Player in January 2011 after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance carboxy-THC (cannabis).
After notification the Player denied he had used cannabis. The Player stated he was sick with the flu in the week of the doping control and had used medications for his illness.
On 11 February 2011 the DBB Anti-Doping Committee decided a 2 year period of ineligibility. Additionally the Player’s German basketball club terminated Player’s contract after the results of the doping control were revealed. The Player left Germany and returned to the United States.
The FIBA notified the Player after the case was submitted to the FIBA in June 2011. The Player filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the FIBA Disciplinary Panel.
The Player admitted he had smoked cannabis in the week before the doping control with the purpose of managing his psychological problems in December 2010. The Player was afraid to admit the use of cannabis to the DBB Anti-Doping Committee. The Player expressed his regret for the violation committed and had no intention to enhance his performance.
The Panel finds the Player clearly lied to the DBB Disciplinary Committee; the Player has a responsibility that no prohibited substance enters his body; he used cannabis in Germany after he was warned by his agent; and the concentration cannabis found in his sample was significantly higher than the threshold for this substance.
Therefore the FIBA Disciplinary Panel decides a 9 month period of ineligibility starting on the date of the DBB decision, i.e. on 11 February 2011.
