Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 Games for PED's

by wondahbap on Aug 6, 2009 11:06 PM PDT

Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis suspended for failing drug test - ESPN
All-Star forward Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic has been suspended without pay for 10 games for testing positive for an elevated testosterone level, the league announced Thursday.
Rashard Lewis tests positive for PEDs, suspended 10 games - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
I'll let you don your own "Judge Judy" robe, but Lewis' quick response makes me think this was an isolated, honest mistake. There are many banned substances on the league's list that can be found in common cold medications to vitamins to supplements.
The Baseline - Sporting News - NBA News, Stories and Reaction, Columns, Exclusive Player Coverage
I'm having trouble recalling any other NBA player being disciplined for any other PED or tell-tale hormone levels. But Lewis isn't particularly known his endless stamina or colossal physique. In other words, I'd hardly see this as the first crack in a great wall of silence and mystery, or a reason to fire up the witch hunt soundtrack. Maybe if it had been [insert physical freak or ball of energy here], there would be reason to whisper. Rashard Lewis? There's really nothing there to hang a crusade on.
Steroid Rashard Lewis Tested Positive For Completely Legal in Baseball -- NBA FanHouse
As Tim Povtak wrote earlier, Magic star Rashard Lewis has been suspended for 10 games by the NBA for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, a substance on the NBA's banned peformance enhancing drug list. But what is dehydroepiandrosterone? Is it anything like the steroids baseball and football players have been disciplined for? Dehydroepiandrosterone, more commonly known as DHEA, is a substance found in over-the-counter supplements. It is not against the law to possess or consume DHEA in the United States. Bills in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate which would have added DHEA to the nation's controlled substance list -- effectively banning DHEA in the United States -- were introduced in 2007, but ultimately never got out of committee. DHEA has been banned by the NBA, obviously, but also by the NFL, the NCAA, the NHL and both the international Olympic and cycling governance bodies. Major League Baseball, however, does not prohibit the use of DHEA by its players.
Rasard Lewis' positive test not a harbinger of NBA drug scandals - Chris Mannix - SI.com
Has the stench of performance enhancing drugs penetrated the NBA? Somehow I doubt it.

What do you think? Click on through to discuss...

(I pretty much agree with everyone above. No big deal. For many reasons, I don't think most NBA players would take real steroids. But I do expect some pro-MLB forces to try to hype this up and try take some of the stink off them. Big deal. Even if it were actually commonplace, it's not news because only the MLB has precious historical regular season statistics to protect. I'm convinced that's the problem with steroids. History. Not the actual taking of them. No one cared that the NFL's Shawn Merriman took them and got caught, and speed and power are major assets to his position! It's a numbers game. If DHEA can help my shot and get a $21 million per year contract, then I'm on my way to GNC.)

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This is what stood out for me...

He will be docked about $1.6 million

That is one expensive mistake. The one thing that I am noticing based on the articles above is that they are making it a point to show that it was an innocent mistake. Rather than blow this out of proportion. Although when this first came out the headlines did grab my attention but I think that this will soon be forgoten. Maybe not. I can already see the stories and headlines during the Magic’s 1st nationally televised game. Maybe as fans we will move on but the televised media will not. I’m sure there will even be a R. Lewis half time interview during one of those games.

Besides, it’s not like he was this super human athlete that made us all think, “that dude is on something”. Also, it’s not like this drug helped him with his shooting because if it was then i’m going out right now and get a case of that stuff.

I dont want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Aug 7, 2009 6:43 AM PDT reply actions

Heh heh.

This might explain his 3rd quarter explosion in game 2 against us. I knew there was something different about his swagger coming out of that locker room!

by Shazam! on Aug 7, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

this might actually be good for Orlando

I believe this makes their early season game of “what’s my role” for the new guys easier, namely Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass. Matt Barnes becomes the poorman’s Lewis. Gortat will get PT that still won’t warrant his new contract. And to a lesser degree, even Vince Carter, who will become the team’s #1 long range sniper.

The key will be getting Lewis to fit right back in, and Bass and Anderson to take their experience to the bench to be productive there.

But, after all, it’s only 10 games. Lewis likely won’t have rust or trouble fitting right back in considering he can still practice and workout (can he play preseason games? anyone know?).

"The problem actually is that PER is a extra-long, double high wagon load of horse crap." - timbo (7/3/09)

by tandur on Aug 8, 2009 12:46 AM PDT reply actions