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BASKET-NBA-SUNS-AYTON
Suns’ Ayton suspended 25 games for banned diuretic
NEW YORK, Oct 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, the
top pick in the 2018 NBA draft, has been suspended 25 games after testing
positive for a banned diuretic, the league said Thursday.
The brief statement from the NBA did not detail when Ayton tested positive,
but said his suspension would begin with Friday’s game against the Denver
Nuggets.
ESPN, citing league sources, reported that the NBA Players Association
plans to file arbitration papers in the belief that there is a case to have
the penalty reduced or rescinded based on their collective bargaining
agreement’s provision of “unintentional ingestion.”
Ayton, a 21-year-old from the Bahamas, averaged 16.3 points and 10.3
rebounds as a rookie.
He had 18 points and 11 rebounds on Wednesday in the Suns’ season-opening
home victory over the Sacramento Kings.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0858 hrs