The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended the Memphis Grizzlies’ O.J. Mayo for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program after he tested positive for DHEA. Mayo’s first violation of the league’s SPED policy (steroids, performance-enhancing drugs and masking agents) automatically results in a 10-game suspension. The suspension corresponds to a forfeiture of $405,109 of his salary.
Sportswriters are mistakenly reporting that O.J. Mayo is the second basketball player in the NBA to test positive for DHEA. Orlando Magic Rashard Lewis did not test positive for DHEA. He tested positive for anabolic steroid use after failing the testosterone:epitestosterone ratio (T:E ratio) test which is suggestive of exogenous testosterone use. Lewis blamed the positive steroid test on his inadvertent use of DHEA in a smoothie he purchased. [Read more…]