Advertisement

Knicks' Joakim Noah suspended 20 games for drug violation


New York Knicks big man Joakim Noah will be suspended for the final 10 games of this season and the first 10 games of the 2017-18 campaign after violating the league's anti-drug program, the NBA announced on Saturday. 

Noah, 32, tested positive for a league-prohibited over-the-counter supplement but didn't “knowingly or willingly” violate the policy. Noah, who has been out since a February knee surgery, co-operated fully with the league’s investigation. 

"Joakim was completely forthcoming and co-operative throughout the investigation and we believe that this isolated occurrence was a regrettable mistake," the NBA players' union said in a statement. "Joakim has offered his deepest apologies for this infraction, and neither he nor the NBPA will pursue an appeal."

In his first season of a four-year, $72 million (£58m) deal , Noah averaged only five points and 8.7 rebounds in 46 games for the struggling Knicks.