| | NEW YORK -- Stanley Roberts of the Philadelphia 76ers was kicked out of the NBA Wednesday after testing positive for a
prohibited drug, the first expulsion under the league's tougher
drug policy.
| |  | | | Roberts |
Roberts, a 7-foot center who was recently placed on the injured
list, tested positive for an "amphetamine-based designer drug,"
the NBA said in a three-paragraph statement. A positive test calls
for immediate expulsion, the league said.
Roberts, 29, was not at the First Union Center on Wednesday
night before the Sixers' game against the Washington Wizards. Coach
Larry Brown and president Pat Croce expressed their regret.
"It's unfortunate that Stanley would jeopardize his career and
possibly his life because he wanted to take a leisure drug," Croce
said. "It bothers me that we would waste time and effort on
rehabilitating him. But the NBA and the players association are
sending a message."
When Philadelphia signed Roberts on Oct. 19, he was not ready to
play because he was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He
was placed on the injured list Monday with a strained lower back.
"I know Stanley, I go way back with him," said Brown, who also
coached Roberts with the Los Angeles Clippers. "My wife goes way
back with him. I'm crushed."
It was the first expulsion under the drug policy that was a big
part of the collective bargaining agreement which ended the lockout
in January. Veterans can be tested once a year -- in training camp
or within 15 days of signing with a team. Rookies can be tested up
to four times.
Roberts exercised his right to ask for a retest and failed it, NBA spokesman Chris Brienza said. He can apply for reinstatement in two years.
"There's no means of support we can give to a player when they
decide to screw with their heads," Croce said.
This is the first season NBA players are being tested for drugs
other than cocaine and heroin, which they were tested for
previously. Players were told what substances were forbidden before
testing began. The substance Roberts tested for was on the list.
"It's very clear: These are the banned substances," said
Brown, shaking his head.
It was not clear whether a grievance would be filed, since the
drug policy is administered jointly by the league and the players'
association. Roberts' agent, Oscar Shoenfelt III, did not return a
telephone call.
Ratliff, the players' association representative for the Sixers,
said he would try to contact Roberts to see if he needed help.
"I want to try to talk to him personally, one-on-one, to see if
he wants to file a grievance or anything like that," Ratliff said.
Roberts signed a $725,000, one-year contract with the Sixers.
The contract is automatically terminated by the expulsion.
Roberts, who played with Shaquille O'Neal at LSU in 1989-90, will be 31 when he can apply for reinstatement. He has a history of
injuries, including two ruptured Achilles tendons, bone spurs in
his ankles, back surgery and shoulder surgery. He also has a
history of weight problems. He weighed 315 pounds when the Sixers
signed him.
Roberts played five games for the 76ers, averaging 10.2 minutes,
2 points and 3 rebounds per game.
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