The NBA will join the MLB in testing players for human growth hormone, which is a common steroid that baseball players have been caught with.
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Like the MLB, NBA players will be severely punished if caught using this illegal substance that’s designed to enhance a player’s performance.
For the first offense, a player would be suspended for 20 games, which makes up nearly a quarter of an NBA regular season.
A second offense would warrant a 45-game suspension, which is more than half of a season, which is comprised of 82 games.
If a player receives a third positive test for HGH use, they will be banned from the league for life. The SI NBA Twitter account released a photo of their new rule that will go into effect starting next season.
Breaking: NBA, NBPA agree to HGH testing beginning in 2015-16. First positive test = 20-game ban. Second = 45. pic.twitter.com/UQXgRBVoY8
— SI NBA (@si_nba) April 16, 2015
The 2014-15 NBA regular season has just come to a close, and the playoffs will begin on Saturday.
The NBA Players Association has agreed to undergo HGH testing as soon as the 2015-16 season begins.
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