Mayo suspended after positive drug test

Specifically, a steroid.

The league announced the suspension Thursday for Mayo’s positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Mayo’s suspension will start Friday night when the Grizzlies visit Philadelphia, and he will be able to return Feb. 15 also against the 76ers in Memphis.

Mayo said in a statement released by the team that he is extremely disappointed he will miss 10 games as the Grizzlies are making a push for the playoffs. He blamed an over the counter supplement that he didn’t know was banned by the NBA for the positive test.

“It was an honest mistake, but I take full responsibility for my actions,” Mayo said in the statement released by the team. I apologize to my fans, teammates and the Grizzlies organization for regrettably not doing the necessary research about what supplements I can put in my body.”

It's happened to a couple of other players before. I'm inclined to believe they are all honest mistakes, it's not as though the players who have been caught out resemble bodybuilders or have tested positive for anabolic steroids, but it just goes to show how careful athletes have to be about these matters and how vigilant they have to be in doing the research and seeking out advice about these supplements.

Bah... I stopped liking this kid since the poker incident. Honest mistake? I don't buy it.

PS: Did he pay Allen the money owed from poker game?

in cases like this, I'd almost rather force him to play for no pay than suspend him.

i think rashard got caught for the same thing

Bah... I stopped liking this kid since the poker incident. Honest mistake? I don't buy it.

Its effectiveness as a performance enhancing drug is apparently limited. I'd say he's ignorant and irresponsible more so than a cheater.

It's not like he is playing spectacular, either. I believe him. I don't see how performance enhancing drugs would really affect a basketball player in a positive way because it's such a strategy game.

And his trade value takes another hit. Wonder if the Griz would take James Johnson and a sandwich for him now?

Mayo says ‘energy drink’ led to positive test

Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo says he believes an “energy drink” he bought at a gas station contained the substance that led to his 10-game suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy.

Mayo was jovial and smiling as he spoke about his suspension for the first time Saturday before the Grizzlies’ game against the Washington Wizards, taking questions from reporters on the team’s practice court.

But he wouldn’t get too specific.

“I didn’t know it had any bad substances in it, and it caused a 10-game suspension,” Mayo said. “It’s not like I went to a GNC and got some Muscle Armor or ordered some supplement off the Internet or anything. It was just a local gas station that kind of got me hemmed up.”

Seems more likely to be a supplement than an energy drink.

We all can thank Tony Allen for exposing the trouble that is going on in OJ Mayo's career with the hope that it will be resolved before it destroys his potential.

Thank you Tony Allen.

you do not blame TA for this damn you


I miss TA in green

No one's blaming TA. If anything, Mayo should thank TA 'cause he exposed the troubles that are going on inside Mayo when TA clocked him in the face for refusing to shut up and pay up.