| Hedo Turkoglu (November 5, 2012) |
The NBA has suspended Orlando Magic small forward Hedo Turkoglu for 20 games without pay for violating the league?s anti-drug program, the league announced this afternoon.
League officials said Turkoglu tested positive for methenolone, an anabolic steroid.
In statements released by the team today, Turkoglu and Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said Turkoglu unknowingly took the banned substance.
"While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury,? Turkoglu said in the statement. ?I didn't know that this was a banned substance and didn't check before taking it.
"I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates, and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake."
Hennigan said: "Hedo unknowingly took a banned substance. There are more than 125 banned substances on the NBA list, and we spend a lot of time educating our players on the contents of that list and will certainly continue to do so moving forward. We believe this was an honest mistake."
Turkoglu has missed most of the season because he fractured his left hand on the season-opener.
He also has missed the team?s last three games.
At the time, team officials said Turkoglu missed the first two games because he had flu-like symptoms and missed the last game ? Sunday?s win over the Portland Trail Blazers ? because he had a sore back.
Turkoglu will answer questions from media this afternoon at Amway Center.
He becomes the second Magic player since 2009 to receive an NBA suspension for violating the league?s anti-drug policy.
During the 2009 postseason, Rashard Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level. ?
Lewis said he took an over-the-counter supplement that he didn't realize contained a substance banned by the NBA. The substance, Lewis said, was DHEA, which the league placed in the category of "steroids, performance-enhancing drugs and masking agents."
The league classifies methenolone the same way.
Turkoglu, who will turn 34 in March, has struggled since he returned from surgery to correct his broken hand.
In 11 games, he's averaging 17.2 minutes, 2.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 turnovers per game.
Turkoglu is earning approximately $11.8 million this season.
Given his age and the team's rebuilding project, he doesn't fit into the team's long-term plans.
The 2013-14 season is the final year of Turkoglu's contract, but his salary of $12 million is not fully guaranteed. According to the website ShamSports.com, only $6 million of that salary is guaranteed.
The punishment for testing positive for a steroid/performance-enhancing drug is stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement that league owners and the players' union ratified in Dec. 2011.
If a player tests positive for the first time during random testing or reasonable cause testing, the player will be suspended for 20 games and will be required to enter the SPEDs Program.?
Turkoglu's suspension will begin with tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks.
His suspension is believed to cost him $2.15 million in lost salary.
Players are subject to four random tests each season from Oct. 1 through June 30. All players are also subject to two random tests each offseason from July 1 through Sept. 30.?
jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.
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