When discussing Bobby Portis‘ suspension for violating the NBA’s health and safety code on Inside the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal shared his own similar experience. He revealed that he was incorrectly given a positive test for cocaine at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he represented Team USA. According to Shaq, an ingredient from one of his meals had the same derivatives as cocaine, which led to the false positive.
“Olympics, ’96 Atlanta. They told us not to eat before we take the drug test. You remember Chuck, they got us standing in line for 3-4 hours? I see them poppy seed muffins, I [ate them]. Horace Balmer come into the room, and he said, ‘Man, I’m disappointed.’ I had tested positive for cocaine.”
“I’ve never done nothing like that. Then they did the research and the poppy seed muffin had the same derivatives as cocaine. That’s the only problem I have with the NBA. They tell you not to take this, this, and that, but something that’s not on the list can be a derivative of something that you’re not supposed to take, and you could mess up that way.”
Shaq story on the time he false positive tested for cocaine in the 96 Olympics pic.twitter.com/cm9n1d59LT
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 21, 2025
This must have been a harrowing experience for O’Neal, who would have been looking forward to representing his country at the Olympics, especially when they were playing in their own backyard. And the fact that the testing protocol was so vague that they could mistake a derivative element for a substance is unbecoming of the Olympics.
There are similarities between Shaq’s predicament and Bobby Portis’ situation. Portis allegedly took a medication that was on the banned list by the NBA. The misunderstanding came because of the similarities between the names of the two medications – Tramadol and Toradol.
Revision Needed In NBA’s Drug Policy
The NBA’s drug policy is one that is comprehensive, but a case like Bobby Portis shows exactly why the protocol must be amended a great deal. Portis accidentally took some medication that he shouldn’t have, given that it was on the banned list. However, if Portis didn’t show any noticeable changes or improvements in his performances, then he shouldn’t be suspended for as many games as he did.
I can understand that making the protocol case-by-case will work to the detriment of the NBA and its medical employees. But there can at least be a way for players to appeal decisions or ask them to be reviewed once they can give a proper explanation for why they were consuming substances on the list, and how it may have impacted their performance on the court.
Portis is sure to miss almost the entirety of the remaining regular season for the Milwaukee Bucks. This costs him and the team a lot, not just on the court but off the court as well. A decision like this proves that the NBA drug policy while working for the safety and sanctity of the league, can be improved upon to make sure that these situations don’t occur again.
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