The NBA suspended Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu for 20 games after he tested positive for methenolone, an anabolic steroid. Kyle Hightower from the Associated press has the report:
Turkoglu said in a statement released by the team that he took medication from a trainer in Turkey this past summer to help him recover from a shoulder injury. He said he ”didn’t know that this was a banned substance and didn’t check before taking it.”
”I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body,” the 33-year-old from Turkey said in his statement. ”This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates, and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake.”
Turkoglu, 33, is having a down season with the Magic. He’s only played in 11 contests this season, scoring a career low 2.9 points per game in 17 minutes of play after breaking his hand in the season opener win against the Denver Nuggets.
Turkoglu arrived into the NBA scene in the year 2000 when the Sacramento Kings drafted him with the 16th overall selection in the draft. He went to play for five seasons off the bench for the team, then he got traded in 2003 to San Antonio and played one year there. Turkoglu went to Orlando for five years and was a member of the 2009 Magic squad that went to the finals and lost 4-1 to the Lakers. After leaving Orlando, Turkoglu spent two years between Toronto and Phoenix before returning to the Magic. He has two years under contract and will be traded either this season or next.
Orlando is currently in 14th place in the Eastern conference with a record of 15 wins and 37 losses.
