Nick Calathes Suspended 20 Games

SATURDAY, 9:18am: Ron Klempner, the acting player’s union executive director, tells Wojnarowski that the suspension is a “true injustice,” and that the NBPA has and will continue to fight the decision. “Our collectively bargained program failed this player and this case will certainly be recalled when we return to the bargaining table,” Klempner said. “In the meantime, we’ll file an appeal and allow the process to run its course.”

FRIDAY, 6:31pm: Memphis guard Nick Calathes will be suspended 20 games for a violation of NBA’s Anti-Drug policy, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). The suspension is to begin immediately according to the tweet. The Grizzlies begin their playoff series against the Thunder on Saturday. The suspension will cause Calathes to miss this year’s playoffs.

Calathes allegedly tested positive for Tamoxifen, which was supposedly part of an over-the-counter athletic supplement he had used, Wojnarowski reports (Twitter link).

The NBA’s lab results reportedly showed no traces of testosterone or performance enhancing drugs in the supplement, tweets Wojnarowski. “There was no intent here,” a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

Calathes averaged 4.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 2.9 APG in 16.5 minutes per game this season.

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