Bobby Portis gained’t be qualified to return for the Bucks right until April 8. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was suspended twenty five online games with no pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug application, the league declared Thursday. He examined good for Tramadol.
Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, introduced a press release claiming the violation was effectively a combination-up. Bartelstein reported Portis thought he was getting a soreness medication named Toradol, and that is permitted, but rather took Tramadol, which is not. The statement mentioned Portis was supplied the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it absolutely was “an trustworthy error.”
“Bobby Portis is absolutely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby performs tirelessly on increasing hisperformance in all all-natural, legal and healthful approaches, but he manufactured a blunder and took a capsule that unknowingly he shouldn't have. Right now, On this occasion, I am so deeply upset the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly, and that the coverage would not enable for a distinct end result for an trustworthy oversight with pure intentions.”
In an announcement launched through the Bucks, Portis mentioned, “I come to feel Terrible and acknowledge that I’m accountable for what I put in my entire body. From the bottom of my heart, I need to apologize towards the Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, loved ones and admirers. I give almost everything I have to the courtroom and may terribly miss out on playing online games with the Bucks through this time.”
Bucks common supervisor Jon Horst mentioned that though “it is a very hard list of circumstances for Bobby and our group … we a hundred% guidance Bobby.”
The twenty five-sport suspension would make Portis ineligible to return right up until the Bucks’ April eight dwelling recreation against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which includes that game, the Bucks might have just four regular-period online games remaining. Milwaukee at the moment sits in fifth area while in the Eastern Meeting, just one recreation back from the Indiana Pacers.
Portis has performed in 46 game titles to the Bucks this season, averaging twenty five.two minutes, 13.7 details and 8.3 rebounds per activity.