45-day grace for imports

There’s a long-standing rule in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) allowing an import to play for 45 days after testing positive for marijuana. It’s not discriminatory even as locals and Fil-foreigners are immediately suspended for the same offense.

The rule dates back to a decision made during the administration of PBA commissioner Rudy Salud who decreed that since some imports may come from states where marijuana use is not illegal, a 45-day grace period is justifiable to wash away the substance. If the import tests positive in another test after 45 days, then he’s suspended. If the results are negative in a retest, then he’s cleared.

In recent years, Kelvin Upshaw and Derrek Hamilton were two imports who tested positive for marijuana and were dismissed from the league. So it’s not as if the PBA tolerates marijuana use among imports.

This year, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) passed Resolution 03-06 stipulating the revocation of a professional license and/or a fine on PBA players who test positive for drugs, including marijuana. The resolution makes no distinction among locals, Fil-foreigners and imports.

Last Wednesday, PBA Commissioner Noli Eala sent a letter to the GAB citing its drug policy and noting that under the league rules, there is a 45-day grace period for imports who test positive for marijuana. Eala obviously saw a contradiction in the PBA’s provision on imports with the GAB resolution, which appears to be all-encompassing.

GAB physician Dr. Nasser Cruz said the government agency would take note of the PBA provision in its Board meeting that was scheduled yesterday.

Cruz told The STAR as of yesterday morning, the GAB had received only Red Bull import Ramel Lloyd’s drug test results. The GAB requires the laboratory findings before issuing a professional license to imports.

Cruz said the results of FedEx import Darrin Hancock’s drug tests were never forwarded to the GAB.

On its own, FedEx arranged for a drug test on Hancock and found the 31-year-old former University of Kansas guard positive for marijuana. Air21 president and FedEx team manager Lito Alvarez didn’t bother availing of the 45-day grace period. He immediately sent for a replacement even as Hancock is still in town. The other night, Terrence Shannon flew in to take Hancock’s spot on the roster.

Hancock would’ve been the only National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran among the 10 imports playing in the Third Conference. He saw action for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994-95 and 1995-96 then played for Milwaukee, San Antonio and Atlanta on short-term contracts in 1996-97.

FedEx’ coaching staff wasn’t really impressed with Hancock who reinforced the Philippine youth squad that lost a one-point decision to the visiting Taiwan national team a few weeks back. The word was Hancock was badly out of shape even if he’s fresh from playing for the Gary Steelheads in the Continental league and the Dodge City Legend in the United States Basketball League (USBL). He averaged 11.3 points for the Steelheads and 13.5 for the Legend.

Shannon is listed 6-8 in record books but FedEx coach Derick Pumaren said he looks more like 6-5. Shannon will be measured before FedEx plays Red Bull in the Third Conference opening game in Baguio tomorrow. If he measures over 6-5, Shannon will not be allowed to play—a situation where Pumaren could suit up Hancock instead, assuming the GAB issues his license on the basis of the PBA’s provision for a 45-day grace period.

Shannon, 23, weighs only 190 pounds and is known for his quickness. He never played for a Division I university and the lack of experience may handicap the Express considering the other imports boast of glowing credentials. Shannon played for Thornwood High School and Elgin Community College before joining the Steelheads in the Continental league in 2000-01, averaging 3.8 points.

As he logged more playing experience, Shannon began to shine. He hit at a 15.1 clip for the Brevard Blue Ducks in the USBL last year then joined the Roanoke Dazzle in the NBA farm system National Basketball Development League (NBDL). Shannon averaged 14.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Dazzle which advanced to the NBDL semifinals this past season. After playing for the Dazzle, Shannon returned to the USBL where he averaged 16.9 points for the Blue Ducks. Last June, he was traded by the Blue Ducks to the Adirondack Wildcats. Shannon averaged 11.3 points for the Wildcats.

In the NBA, a player who tests positive for marijuana can never be banned from the league. He will only be suspended on five-game intervals for each positive test. The PBA applies a harsher penalty in that it indefinitely suspends a player who tests positive for the same substance—provided he’s a local or Fil-foreigner. An import has the privilege of a 45-day grace period within which to flush the marijuana out of his system before attempting a second test.