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News (Media Awareness Project) - Canada: Union Gives Straight Dope On Drug Tests |
| Title: | Canada: Union Gives Straight Dope On Drug Tests |
| Published On: | 1999-07-10 |
| Source: | Vancouver Province (Canada) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-06 02:21:59 |
UNION GIVES STRAIGHT DOPE ON DRUG TESTS
Marijuana testing is coming to the NBA and the players' union wants its
members to know the time to stop partying is now.
Player representatives for the 29 teams were told at the union's annual
meeting at Nassau, Bahamas, to spread the word to their teammates about the
leagues's new drug policy.
Since marijuana can stay in a person's system for two to three months,
players who use it in July run the risk of getting caught in October.
"I would thnk that if guys are using, they got the message last year that
they'll be tested," Tyrone Corbin of the Atlanta Hawks said Wednesday."Some
guys, just like society in general, don't get the message until they're
caught. Hopefully, they'll get this message and it won't put their
careers in jeopardy."
Steroids were added to the league's banned substances list during the last
collective bargaining negotiations, and all players will be tested when
training camps open in October. Rookies will be tested at random four
times a season.
"When the testing comes, the proof will be in the pudding," said union
director Billy Hunter, who scoffed at a report in 1997 saying about 70 per
cent of the league's players either use marijuana or are heavy drinkers.
Many players at the union meeting said there are a number of marijuana
users, but the total isn't close to 70 percent of the player population.
Several players, including Chris Webber, Mookie Blaylock, Vernon Maxwell
and J.R. Rider, have been arrested on marijuana-related charges.
NBA players who test positive must undergo counselling. A second positive
test brings a $15,000 US fine, and any subsequent positive test results in
a five-game suspension.
Penalties for narcotics like cocaine, heroin and PCP are more severe. A
positive test - or a conviction or guilty plea to a crime involving one of
those drugs - can lead to disqualification from the NBA.
Anyone testing positive for steroids gets a five-game suspension for the
first offence, a 10-game suspension for the second and a 25-game suspension
for the third.
Marijuana testing is coming to the NBA and the players' union wants its
members to know the time to stop partying is now.
Player representatives for the 29 teams were told at the union's annual
meeting at Nassau, Bahamas, to spread the word to their teammates about the
leagues's new drug policy.
Since marijuana can stay in a person's system for two to three months,
players who use it in July run the risk of getting caught in October.
"I would thnk that if guys are using, they got the message last year that
they'll be tested," Tyrone Corbin of the Atlanta Hawks said Wednesday."Some
guys, just like society in general, don't get the message until they're
caught. Hopefully, they'll get this message and it won't put their
careers in jeopardy."
Steroids were added to the league's banned substances list during the last
collective bargaining negotiations, and all players will be tested when
training camps open in October. Rookies will be tested at random four
times a season.
"When the testing comes, the proof will be in the pudding," said union
director Billy Hunter, who scoffed at a report in 1997 saying about 70 per
cent of the league's players either use marijuana or are heavy drinkers.
Many players at the union meeting said there are a number of marijuana
users, but the total isn't close to 70 percent of the player population.
Several players, including Chris Webber, Mookie Blaylock, Vernon Maxwell
and J.R. Rider, have been arrested on marijuana-related charges.
NBA players who test positive must undergo counselling. A second positive
test brings a $15,000 US fine, and any subsequent positive test results in
a five-game suspension.
Penalties for narcotics like cocaine, heroin and PCP are more severe. A
positive test - or a conviction or guilty plea to a crime involving one of
those drugs - can lead to disqualification from the NBA.
Anyone testing positive for steroids gets a five-game suspension for the
first offence, a 10-game suspension for the second and a 25-game suspension
for the third.
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