Cleveland Cavaliers power forward and center Tristan Thompson has a rocky past in getting caught doing things and being in places he should not be. The waning NBA star has been nailed again, but this time, by the league, following a drug test.
Thompson has been suspended for 25 games without pay by the NBA. The suspension comes in his 15th year, as he tested positive for two performance-enhancing substances related to muscle growth and bone density.
The test showed that Thompson took both SARM LGD-4033 and ibutamoren, which are both on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.
The NBA conducts six annual drug tests for all of their players. If caught for the first time, it is an automatic 25-game suspension without pay, like Thompson received. If caught for a second time, the suspension without pay will increase to 55 games.
“I think he should be suspended longer because performance-enhancing drugs are not allowed in the NBA,” said Kara Dial, a senior nursing major.
The Canadian built a strong reputation on the court in his tenure with Cleveland when he won the NBA finals alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in 2016. Since then, the star has seen his career drop off and has been around the league with a litany of teams.
Ryan Collins is a sophomore mass communication major and Cavs fan.
“It’s sad that he did this after we brought him back,” Collins said. “He was a part of that iconic team that pulled the 3-1 comeback on prime Golden State in the Finals. It’s a memory I’ll never forget, and while this is disappointing, I’ll always remember him in that light.”
The star is under a lot of scrutiny after the positive test due to his decline in playing time. Now, not only will he not be playing at all, but he will not get paid either.
“I think it’s funny that he gets caught doping in a year when he’s averaging 4 points a game,” said Jackson Kizer, a junior marketing major. “He deserves to not be paid during the suspension too. He’s not new to the league; he knows how things work.”
Despite losing the status he had in the mid-2010s, Thompson has been a massive player for Cleveland this year. He used his experience to shine in place of injured starters Evan Mobley and Darius Garland during a period of eight straight wins for the team.
The Cavaliers made a statement saying they back the NBA in their drug testing protocol. They also stated that Thompson’s time away from the court will hurt the team, but they stand with him at this point in time.
Many fans were concerned about how this suspension would affect the team overall, but since the suspension, the Cavaliers have won four of their last five games, only losing their first game without Thompson. Thompson is set to return to the team on March 16, when they play the Houston Rockets.
