Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 8, 1990 TAG: 9004080061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS LENGTH: Medium
Tarpley, the team's leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, was suspended from Saturday night's game against the Chicago Bulls at Reunion Arena in Chicago and Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Inglewood, Calif.
Tarpley, who missed practice Friday, is expected to rejoin the team for Tuesday's game at the Los Angeles Clippers.
"This is a basketball-related suspension," Norm Sonju, the Mavericks' general manager, said in a statement. "Suspending Roy for two games for missing practice is a decision that was made by [Mavericks coach] Richie Adubato with the full backing of ownership and management.
"As our coach, Richie has authority to take basketball-related disciplinary action."
Tarpley already is a two-time violator of the NBA's anti-drug policy. He automatically will be banned from the league for a minimum of two years if a test administered by NBA-sanctioned doctors late Friday shows cocaine or heroin use, team spokesman Kevin Sullivan said.
If he tests positive for alcohol, Sullivan said Tarpley will be suspended indefinitely - possibly for the rest of the season - by officials of the Adult Substance Abuse Program Treatment Center in Van Nuys, Calif. Tarpley has been taking regular drug tests two or three times a week since April 1988 under the league's after-care guidelines.
Results of the test are expected to be known Monday, Sullivan said.
"We are awaiting further advisement from ASAP officials," Sonju said.
Team officials announced Friday that Tarpley was fined $250 and suspended indefinitely without pay for missing a 10 a.m. practice and failing to notify team officials. He is prohibited from attending team practices, meetings and games.
Tarpley was at his North Dallas condominium Friday night, but a woman identifying herself as his girlfriend said he would make no statement.
A Dallas newspaper reported Tarpley told team officials on Friday that he had not taken drugs or alcohol, and expected to pass the drug test. Sonju did not immediately return calls Saturday from The Associated Press.
Adubato said he thinks the two-game suspension is appropriate.
"If anyone else misses and doesn't call, a similar action will have to be taken. Before practice, I talked to the team about the suspension. I could tell by their reaction they thought it was the proper disciplinary action."
Tarpley admitted in October 1987 he was seeking counseling for alcohol and cocaine problems, constituting his first violation of the anti-drug policy.
The second occurred earlier this season, when Tarpley, 25, was suspended for 33 games because he failed to comply with the rehabilitation program. On Nov. 15, he was charged with drunken driving and resisting arrest after being stopped for speeding.
ASAP counselors suspended him the next day for consuming alcohol. That cost him about $240,500 in salary.
Tarpley missed a March 10 team flight to Houston because he said his home had sustained a power outage, knocking out his alarm clock and causing him to oversleep.
by CNB