Bobby Portis won’t be suitable to return with the Bucks until April 8. (Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was suspended 25 video games devoid of buy violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, the league declared Thursday. He analyzed positive for Tramadol.
Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, launched a statement proclaiming the violation was fundamentally a combination-up. Bartelstein mentioned Portis believed he was taking a pain medication known as Toradol, that is authorized, but as an alternative took Tramadol, which isn't. The statement claimed Portis was presented the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it was “an honest mistake.”
“Bobby Portis is totally not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby works tirelessly on raising hisperformance in all normal, lawful and healthy means, but he designed a blunder and took a capsule that unknowingly he mustn't have. Now, in this instance, I am so deeply upset which the NBA chooses to interpret its coverage so strictly, and the coverage doesn't make it possible for for a unique outcome for an honest miscalculation with pure intentions.”
In an announcement introduced because of the Bucks, Portis reported, “I truly feel Terrible and understand which i’m answerable for what I put in my human body. From the bottom of my heart, I need to apologize on the Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, household and lovers. I give every thing I've within the courtroom and can terribly miss participating in video games for the Bucks through this time.”
Bucks typical manager Jon Horst mentioned that although “this is the very hard set of instances for Bobby and our team … we 100% assist Bobby.”
The twenty five-match suspension would make Portis ineligible to return right until the Bucks’ April eight property activity towards the Minnesota Timberwolves. Which includes that match, the Bucks would have just 4 normal-time online games remaining. Milwaukee at this time sits in fifth position while in the Eastern Conference, a person match back from the Indiana Pacers.
Portis has performed in 46 game titles to the Bucks this time, averaging twenty five.two minutes, thirteen.seven factors and 8.3 rebounds per match.