Former MSU Basketball Player Suspended for Drug Violation

PHILADELPHIA (WCBI/USA Today) – Second-year Philadelphia 76ers forward Arnett Moultrie was suspended five games without pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, the league announced Monday.

(NBA)

A third positive test for marijuana is the only scenario resulting in a five-game ban, according to a summary of the collective bargaining agreement on the NBA website. A first offense requires a player to enter the league’s marijuana program. A second offense results in a $25,000 fine. Five games are added to the length of a player’s previous suspension for each additional positive test beyond the third.

The 76ers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Sixers still owe a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics, via the Miami Heat, to complete the trade for Moultrie. The 6-11, 249-pound power forward is assigned to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League, unable to crack the Sixers’ roster after being drafted 27th overall in 2012 out of Mississippi State. If the Sixers do not qualify for the playoffs next season, the obligation converts into two second-round picks, one due in 2015 and another in 2016.

Moultrie has been sidelined by injury for much of his pro career. He played sparingly for former Sixers coach Doug Collins last season and has seen even less action this season under first-year coach Brett Brown, who is focusing on player development as the Sixers languish near the bottom of the league standings. Philadelphia snapped an NBA-record 26-game losing streak Saturday.

Moultrie sat out until February after surgery for a left ankle injury and blamed the Sixers while publicly complaining about his inability to get on the court. He was sent to the D-League the next day.

In 12 NBA games this season, the 23-year-old has averaged three points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per contest. He appeared in 47 games last season, when he averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.