Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin was suspended for five games after receiving a blood treatment that’s outlawed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, according to Focus Taiwan.
Taiwan’s P. League+ said Lin didn’t take any banned substances but underwent intravenous laser irradiation of blood (ILIB).
Lin’s team, New Taipei Kings, advised him to seek the treatment to aid in his recovery from a plantar fascia injury and didn’t realize the procedure is prohibited. He has been dealing with the injury since January.
Lin signed with the Kings last September after having suited up for the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers in Taiwan. Through 14 P. League+ games, he has averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The 35-year-old began playing overseas in 2019 after failing to find a new home in the NBA. He attempted a comeback in 2021 by joining the Santa Cruz Warriors, the Golden State Warriors’ NBA G League affiliate.
In May 2021, Lin said he was waving the white flag on playing again in the NBA. He spent nine seasons in the Association across spells with eight franchises.
He won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, and his “Linsanity” run with the New York Knicks in 2012 is still remembered fondly by those there to witness it.
New York Knicks center Joakim Noah has been suspended 20 games by the NBA for violating its anti-drug program, the league announced March 25 (via Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today).
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.
Ian Begley of ESPN reported Wednesday that Noah has been declared physically fit to play by the NBA’s independent doctor so his suspension will begin immediately.
The 32-year-old reportedly tested positive for an over-the-counter supplement that has been outlawed under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
However, Wojnarowski reported the National Basketball Players Association determined Noah didn’t “knowingly or willingly” breach the CBA. He is also said to have fully cooperated with the investigation.
Noah underwent arthroscopic surgery Feb. 27 to remove a loose particle in his left knee, and he was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Prior to being shut down, he averaged 5.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 22.1 minutes per game.
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