BREAKING: Suns' Deandre Ayton Facing 25-Game Suspension For Violating NBA's Anti-Doping Policy

BREAKING: Suns’ Deandre Ayton Facing 25-Game Suspension For Violating NBA’s Anti-Doping Policy

October 24, 2019, 9:02pm EST (Updated: January 15, 2023, 6:06pm)By Darrelle Lincoln

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

This is not the way the Phoenix Suns wanted to start the 2019-2020 season.

On Thursday, it was reported that Suns center DeAndre Ayton was facing a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-doping policy.

The former No. 1 overall pick’s drug test apparently came back with a positive test for a diuretic.

Suns center Deandre Ayton is facing a 25-game suspension for violating NBA’s Anti-Drug policy with a positive test for a diuretic, league sources tell ESPN. The NBA informed Ayton and Suns of looming suspension tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 25, 2019

The NBPA is already preparing arbitration case to reduce or rescind penalty, based on belief positive test falls under CBA provision of ‘unintentional ingestion', league sources tell ESPN. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. https://t.co/UM34cCc3Ol
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 25, 2019

The suspension for DeAndre Ayton will cost $2.17M. The Suns have 15 guaranteed contracts and will move Ayton to the suspended list after he misses 5 games. The Suns will be able to add a 16th player after the Memphis game on Nov. 2.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 25, 2019

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The former No. 1 overall pick’s drug test apparently came back with a positive test for a diuretic.

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Diuretics are a thinning agent used to mask potential drug use in professional athletes. A high-profiled player getting such a suspension would be a big deal and would be a huge blow to a rebuilding Suns franchise.

UPDATE:

It’s official.

The Suns' honeymoon after throttling Sacramento on Opening Night lasts less than 24 hours … as 2018's No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton gets hit with a 25-game suspension … pic.twitter.com/h03YTBawYK
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 25, 2019