The NBA announced that it suspended Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler for 25 games without pay after testing positive for Ipamorelin.
Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler is facing a 25 game suspension for testing positive for PED use, league sources tell ESPN. The NBA is expected to make an announcement later today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 29, 2019
“During my injury rehab process, before I signed with the Nets, I was prescribed a treatment that included small doses of a substance recently added to the NBA’s prohibited substance list,” Chandler said in a statement to ESPN. “I did not realize this substance was banned, and neither did the doctor. I accept responsibility and apologize to my Nets teammates, coaches, front office, and fans for this mistake. I will continue to work hard to prepare for the upcoming season.”
The Brooklyn Nets signed Chandler in July as a free agent. The team had expectations that he would play an important role in the team’s front-court rotation off the bench. In the 2018-19 campaign, Chandler averaged six points and 4.2 rebounds in 51 games.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, because of this 25-game suspension, Chandler will lose $582,898, which is $23,316 per contest.
Chandler will start the regular season on the active list and then will move to the suspension list after the fifth game. This will allow Brooklyn, who at the moment has 15 guaranteed contracts, to add a 16th player following that game, which is played on November 1. Chandler will become eligible to be activated from the suspension list for the clash with the Philadelphia 76ers on December 15.
In his 11 seasons in the NBA, the 32-year-old Chandler, who was a first-round pick of the New York Knicks in 2007, has averaged 12.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
