The NBA has announced that Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu has been suspended for 20 games after testing positive for a banned substance.
The 33-year-old tested positive for the anabolic steroid methenolone, which he claims to have taken during the off-season in Turkey during his recovery from a shoulder injury. Turkoglu described the substance he took as a pill to relieve pain in his shoulder. Turkoglu failed the drug test in December and learned that he tested positive one week ago. He insisted that he has never taken any substances to improve his performance, only to relieve pain and speed up the recovery process.
Before the suspension, Turkoglu had missed Orlando’s last three games with flu-like symptoms and soreness in his back. While the team’s general manager, Rob Hennigan, admitted that the Magic learned of the injury last week, he made it clear that there was no connection between the failed drug tests and Turkoglu being previously sidelined.
Turkoglu issued the following statement:
“As a player, this is the worst situation that you can be in, I just want to start (by saying) I’m sorry. I apologize to the DeVos family, the Magic organization, my teammates and, most importantly, my fans here and all around the world. This is a situation that I never wanted to be in. I’m sorry to be in this situation and I really apologize to put the organization in this situation. I’m really sorry for everything that happened.
“I haven’t been using. The last time I used the pills or whatever, it was back in Turkey during the summertime. I was battling my shoulder injury throughout my workouts. I took something that I shouldn’t be taking. I should’ve researched and I shouldn’t be in this situation right now. It’s a good mistake to learn from, for everybody, what I’m facing right now. Like I said, I’m really sorry, putting myself in this position and the organization too.”
Hedo Turkoglu made it very clear that he regrets not doing his homework on the particular substance before taking it. Due to being in Turkey, he didn’t clear the drug with Orlando’s medical staff. During the on season, the Magic constantly teaches their players about banned substances and even have a list of the 125 drugs that are banned by the NBA hanging in the locker room at the Amway Center.
During the suspension, Turkoglu will not be able to be in or around the arena on game days. However, he will be able to practice and travel with the team.
However, it is unclear if Turkoglu will be on the roster next season. Only $6 million of Turkoglu’s $12 million 2013-14 salary is guaranteed.
“I think we’re going to get through this step and then we’ll worry about the summer when the summer comes,” Hennigan said. “Contracts are what they are, and we’ll get to make decisions about a lot of things over the summer and certainly Hedo’s situation will be one of them. We’re not able to comment now on what that decision will be.”
