Bobby Portis gained’t be suitable to return with the Bucks until finally April eight. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Illustrations or photos)
Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis was suspended 25 video games without pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug software, the league declared Thursday. He analyzed good for Tramadol.

Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, unveiled a press release claiming the violation was in essence a combination-up. Bartelstein claimed Portis assumed he was taking a pain medication referred to as Toradol, that's permitted, but rather took Tramadol, which isn't. The statement mentioned Portis was presented the incorrect medication by an assistant of his, and it was “an genuine miscalculation.”

“Bobby Portis is completely not a drug abuser,” Bartelstein wrote. “Bobby performs tirelessly on growing hisperformance in all pure, lawful and healthful means, but he created a oversight and took a tablet that unknowingly he should not have. Right now, During this occasion, I'm so deeply disappointed that the NBA chooses to interpret its policy so strictly, and that the plan does not enable for a distinct consequence for an genuine mistake with pure intentions.”

In a statement released by the Bucks, Portis said, “I feel Awful and realize that I’m answerable for what I put in my body. From The underside of my heart, I choose to apologize to your Bucks Firm, my teammates, coaches, loved ones and followers. I give every thing I've around the courtroom and may terribly overlook playing video games with the Bucks through this time.”

Bucks common manager Jon Horst reported that although “this is the very difficult set of conditions for Bobby and our workforce … we a hundred% assistance Bobby.”

The 25-match suspension would make Portis ineligible to return until the Bucks’ April 8 house match from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Including that sport, the Bucks would have just 4 regular-season game titles remaining. Milwaukee presently sits in fifth location inside the Eastern Meeting, a person activity again on the Indiana Pacers.

Portis has played in forty six video games for your Bucks this time, averaging 25.two minutes, 13.seven points and eight.3 rebounds for each recreation.