US Basketball Player Banned for Doping in China


Beijing, Jan 4 (IANS): Marcus Williams, the first player banned for doping in China's professional basketball league, left for the United States Friday.

The Shanxi guard, receiving a six months ban from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Dec 31 after testing positive for marijuana, bade farewell to his fans, reports Xinhua.

"I am truly humbled by the love that this city has given me during such a tough time. It truly inspires me to only improve from this situation, and redemption is all that is on my mind," Williams wrote in his microblog on Sina.com.

"I love what China and the CBA has given me. It is truly a second home for me," he said, posting a picture appearing to be shot in the airport where a number of fans were seeing him off.

Williams, 26, kicked off his stint in China in 2010 with Zhejiang club before he was transferred in 2011 to Shanxi where he turned into one of the biggest stars in the league.

The former San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers player was forced to cut his 2012-2013 season short after he was found using marijuana, for which he cited medical reasons. Marijuana is strictly banned in China.

Williams' contract with Shanxi runs until 2014 and the club said they will welcome Williams back as long as his return "complies with the CBA's regulation".

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: US Basketball Player Banned for Doping in China



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.