Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans has been “dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.”
In two years, Evans will be able to apply to be reinstated back into the NBA after being removed for violating the league’s drug policy. According to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, “If a player tests positive for a Drug of Abuse during Random Testing or Reasonable Cause Testing, he will be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA.” The league’s list of Drugs of Abuse is as follows: “amphetamine and its analogs, benzodiazepines, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, LSD, opiates, and PCP.” Evans has not previously been suspended for any drug-related offenses.
The NBA released a statement that said, “The NBA announced today that Tyreke Evans has been dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Under the Anti-Drug Program, Evans is eligible to apply for reinstatement in two years. The NBA, NBA teams, and the Players Association are prohibited from publicly disclosing information regarding the testing or treatment of any NBA player under the Anti-Drug Program, other than to announce a player’s suspension or dismissal from the league.”
The Pacers also addressed Evans’ disqualification saying, “The Indiana Pacers were informed Friday by the NBA that Tyreke Evans has been dismissed from the league for a violation of the league’s anti-drug policy,” the Pacers said in a statement. “We take these matters seriously and will reach out to Tyreke to offer our support.”
The former NBA Rookie of the Year played for the Indiana Pacers this past season and averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.3 minutes of action per game, according to CBS Sports.
