Paul George’s suspension highlights split in NBA community over drug policy

Philadelphia 76ers player Paul George has been suspended for 25 games, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) announced on Saturday, January 31st. In a statement made to ESPN, George admitted to taking "improper medication" to treat his mental health issues. In the same statement, he issued an apology  to “the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process.”  This suspension will cost him more than $11.7 million and his absence for crucial games leading up to the playoffs.

George, a NBA veteran of almost 15 seasons, has been an outspoken advocate for mental health. Especially during the 2020 season in the “Bubble,” he has shared his own struggles and encouraged everyone, especially men, to seek help.  He has insisted that the medication he took was only for his mental health and had nothing to do with improving his physical play.

The current collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”), which was approved in 2023 and will remain in place until the 2029-2030 season, lays out procedures for players who test positive for a variety of banned substances. EXHIBIT I-2 of the CBA is the list of prohibited substances categorized as Drugs of Abuse: Synthetic Cannabinoids, Steroids and Performance Enhancing Drugs (“SPEDs”), and Diuretics.

The NBA and its medical staff have not released any information about the drugs George tested positive for, and the CBA encourages the league to protect that privacy. However, the specific suspension George received (25 games) connects to Article XXXIII, Section 9(b)(a) and relates to "drugs of abuse." Similarly, the list of Drugs of Abuse include Benzodiazepines, a category of drugs used to treat anxiety and panic attacks.

The same article also states that any players in violation are required to “enter the SPED Program (or the Drugs of Abuse Program if the positive test or the use or possession is for a Benzodiazepine).” No information has been shared about if George is involved in treatment programs.

The league did not announce why George was drug tested, but this suspension did arrive after George’s best performance of the season. Often after remarkable athletic performances, the NBA will drug test the players, a right they hold within the CBA.

George’s actions, and his recent basketball performance, has divided the NBA community. Many past players cannot understand how he could have made this error – players are given strict guidelines about which medications are permissible and which are banned. George, as a NBA veteran, knows the medications that are explicitly banned, making this situation even more unusual.

Others feel that medicine for mental health related issues should be exempt from the list of banned substances. Charles Barkley, who played in the NBA in the 90s, argued that George should be allowed to take banned substances if he was taking them to improve his mental wellbeing. However, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are not included in the list, but drugs such as Xanax and Valium are. This leads many to believe that George may be using mental health as an excuse for his poor judgement, since alternatives were available.

Paul George’s suspension brings the NBA’s anti-drug policy into discussion. The CBA is not set to expire for another 4 years, so it will be interesting if the league or the players association, or George himself, work to make any changes.

Eliana Halivni is a student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying History and Sports Administration. Her LinkedIn can be found here.