Cleveland Cavaliers star Tristan Thompson has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-doping program.
A statement released by the NBA on Tuesday revealed that Thompson tested positive for two prohibited substances, ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. Both are considered performance-enhancing drugs by the NBA.
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He will not be able to play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night as the suspension takes immediate effect.
The NBA agreed to stop testing players for marijuana in April 2023, continuing from the league’s decision to stop testing in March 2020 due to the pandemic. But random drug testing continued for human growth hormone and performance-enhancers.
Additionally, the league reserves the right to run tests for what it calls ‘drugs of abuse’, such as methamphetamine, opiates and cocaine.
Thompson‘s ban will run through until the middle of March, which will leave the Cavaliers with even fewer options than they currently have at their disposal. The 32-year-old will not be paid for the duration of his 25-game absence.
A difficult time for the Cavaliers
Without Thompson, the Cavaliers are left with Jarrett Allen, Damian Jones and Isaiah Mobley as options to play center.
Thompson agreed to a one-year contract to rejoin the Cavs, the franchise where he spent the first nine years of his career and where won a championship in 2016.
In 36 games this season, Thompson has averaged 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in about 12.4 minutes per game. His best performance came last month against the Orlando Magic, as the experienced star dropped 10 points and 13 rebounds in a season-high 29 minutes.
The Cavaliers are 26-15 for the season, the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, and proved to be one of the most in-form teams in the league over recent weeks. But it remains to be seen how they will cope without a frontcourt contributor in the coming weeks after losing Thompson.
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