By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Nick Calathes, as expected, is included in the Greek national team’s initial 24 players list for the upcoming FIBA World Cup and FIBA will decide in the following days how his NBA ban translates outside the borders of the professional American league.
As we have reported, FIBA cooperates with WADA and they have to decide for the first time ever how to punished a player who failed an anti-doping test in the NBA and haven’t yet fully served his penalty. Calathes has been banned from 20 NBA games and still has to stay a spectator for 13 contest.
According to sources from the Greek basketball federation, Calathes’ side was asked to present its case to FIBA on the 20th of June, however the Greek side asked some more time in order to prepare better. The Greek federation has hired lawyers specialized on this kind of cases, while Calathes has also the support of NBPA. Still no one can predict the outcome of such a hearing, since there’s no precedent and the decision about Calathes will be the future guide for such incidents.
The best case scenario is a six months ban, counting from the 3rd of March, when he was tested positive. If this is the outcome, then Calathes will be cleared to play in the upcoming FIBA World Cup. The worst case scenario is a two years ban in every FIBA competition and tournament.