14 Feb 2013

NBA player banned for doping

2:57 pm on 14 February 2013

The National Basketball Association slapped Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu with a 20-game ban on Wednesday after he tested positive for steroids.

The league said the 33-year-old Turkish native tested positive for the steroid methenolone.

Turkoglu blamed the positive test on a trainer in Turkey but he did not name the person who gave him the steroids.

He says he was given a medication to help him recover more quickly from a shoulder injury while he was home in Turkey last year.

In a statement Turkoglu says while he didn't know he was taking a abanned substancehe takes full responsibility for anything that goes into his body.

He has apologised to the Orlando Magic, the league, his teammates and the Magic fans.

His suspension begins Wednesday night, when the Magic face the Atlanta Hawks.