Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was suspended for 25 games by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. The ban that sidelines Portis for the majority of the season.
According to ESPN, Portis tested positive for the drug tramadol, a pain medicine used to treat adults with severe pain. Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Portis agent, said that his client took it by accident.
“I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant,” Bartelstein told ESPN.
“Bobby unintentionally took a pain medication called tramadol, thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol. Toradol is an approved pain medication that he has used previously and that teams and players use for pain and inflammation at times. Tramadol, however, is not an approved pain medication and was just recently added to the banned substance list this past spring,” he continued.
“The tramadol pill he took came from an assistant of his, with a valid prescription for the painkiller. He mistakenly told Bobby was Toradol. This was, again, an honest mistake that was made because of the similarity in the names of the drugs. And the fact they both serve a very similar purpose, ”he added. “Bobby was using this anti-inflammatory pain-reducing medication to deal with an elbow injury he had this past fall. He believed he was taking Toradol to alleviate some pain in preparation for that game.”
Bartelstein also said Portis will not appeal the suspension.
Returning from the All-Star break, Portis’ suspension is a major blow to the Bucks. They are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The squad relies on Portis’ steady play as the team’s top reserve player.
This season, Portis is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. He ranks sixth in scoring and second in rebounding off the bench. He also was vital to the Bucks championship team in 2021.
With four games left in the season, Portis will be eligible to return against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 8.
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