Bobby Portis gained’t be eligible to return for the Bucks until finally April eight. (Image by Stacy Revere/Getty Illustrations or photos)
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis was suspended twenty five video games devoid of buy violating the NBA’s anti-drug system, the league introduced Thursday. He analyzed positive for Tramadol.
Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, launched an announcement boasting the violation was basically a mix-up. Bartelstein mentioned Portis imagined he was using a soreness medication termed Toradol, which is authorized, but alternatively took Tramadol, which is not. The assertion reported Portis was given the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it absolutely was “an straightforward slip-up.”
“Bobby Portis is totally not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby operates tirelessly on escalating hisperformance in all organic, lawful and nutritious approaches, but he created a mistake and took a capsule that unknowingly he should not have. Now, With this instance, I am so deeply upset the NBA chooses to interpret its plan so strictly, and that the policy would not let for a different consequence for an sincere oversight with pure intentions.”
In a statement introduced via the Bucks, Portis mentioned, “I experience horrible and acknowledge that I’m responsible for what I put in my human body. From The underside of my heart, I would like to apologize to the Bucks Business, my teammates, coaches, relatives and admirers. I give every thing I have around the court and may terribly miss playing games with the Bucks throughout this time.”
Bucks common supervisor Jon Horst reported that though “this is the very hard set of circumstances for Bobby and our workforce … we one hundred% assist Bobby.”
The 25-activity suspension would make Portis ineligible to return right until the Bucks’ April 8 house game from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Like that sport, the Bucks would've just four frequent-period game titles remaining. Milwaukee at the moment sits in fifth location during the Eastern Convention, 1 activity back on the Indiana Pacers.
Portis has performed in 46 video games with the Bucks this season, averaging 25.2 minutes, 13.7 factors and eight.three rebounds for every recreation.