Andersen dismissed from league for violating drug policy By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer January 27, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- New Orleans Hornets forward Chris Andersen was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA on Friday for violating the league's drug policy.
Andersen must wait two years before he can apply for reinstatement, the league said.
According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, a player can only be disqualified for a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, or a first positive test for "drugs of abuse."
The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.
Andersen has not previously been suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Under the CBA, the first positive test for performance-enhancing drugs results in a 10-game suspension.
Andersen, 27, averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32 games this season, his fifth in the NBA. He played three seasons for the Nuggets before joining the Hornets.
Known as "Birdman" for his high-flying dunks, Andersen was a fan favorite among Hornets fans in Oklahoma City, where the team is playing most of its home games this season.
Hornets owner George Shinn said in a statement released by the team, "we were obviously disappointed and saddened to hear that Chris has been dismissed from the league.
"On behalf of his teammates, coaches and the entire organization, we wish him well and hope he learns from this experience," Shinn said.
Neither the NBA nor the union is allowed to comment on specifics of a player's drug test.
"The players' association plans on filing a grievance on Chris Andersen's behalf," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said. "Our expectation is that a grievance hearing will take place in approximately two weeks."
The hearing will be heard by an independent grievance arbitrator.
Andersen played in 67 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds.
He is best known for his performance in the NBA's dunk contest last year when he needed eight tries to finish his first dunk.
Andersen is the first player kicked out because of drugs since Stanley Roberts in 1999.
Associated Press Writer Murray Evans in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.
Funny-- I just recently had a Slam Dunk Contest with myself on NBA Live '05, and (thanks mostly to the fact that Andersen hit less sucky dunks than anyone else-- man, I suck at the Slam Dunk Contest), Andersen won one of the competitions.
Is this the start of the ekedolphin Slam Dunk Contest Winner Jinx? (Probably not.) But it begs the question-- who am I gonna condemn next? (Actually, no it doesn't.)
I find it rather amusing that acid puts you out of the league for two years, but you can get busted for steroid abuse four times in a row before they cut you loose.
Tonight at the end of the Sixers/Suns game in Phoenix, some guy threw a live rat onto the court. The same thing happened at the last Sixers road game in Utah a couple of days ago. What the hell is going on and who is this lunatic?
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