Darius Miles, the former Trail Blazers forward who is looking for employment within the NBA, will be a little less attractive to teams today after it was learned that Miles is subject to a 10-game suspension for violating the league's Anti-Drug program.
It is not known for what substance Miles tested positive, but in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, it states a player can receive a 10-game suspension for testing positive once for performance-enhancing drugs or for his fourth positive test of marijuana.
Players are randomly tested four times a year, from Oct. 1 through June 30. After the first positive test for marijuana a player is entered into the league's substance abuse program. The second positive test carries a $25,000 fine. The third a five-game suspension and the fourth a 10-game suspension, with each subsequent positive test carrying a five-game incremental suspension.
Miles has not played in an NBA game in two years, so it is not known when, or if, he was suspended five games during that time.
Although the Blazers waived Miles in April after an independent doctor ruled Miles' injuries to his right knee were career ending, the 10-game suspension is still relevant to the team. The Blazers will pay Miles the remaining $27.25 million of his contract, but his salary does not count against the Blazers' salary cap. However, if Miles returns to the NBA and plays in 10 games in one season in either of the next two seasons, his salary goes back onto the Blazers' books.
The suspension figures to make Miles even more damaged goods for a team interested in signing him. It is unclear whether Miles is trying to make a comeback, although it was rumored that he has been working out in Phoenix. His agent, Jeff Wechsler, did not return a phone message on Wednesday. No player has ever come back to the NBA after being deemed to have a career-ending injury.
What a waste.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazer ... _susp.html
— Mags
