Marcus Williams Banned From Chinese Basketball After Marijuana Test

Former NBA player Marcus Williams has been banned from the Chinese Basketball Association for testing positive for marijuana.

Williams, a 2007 second round draft choice of the NBA San Antonio Spurs who was on the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons, has been banned for six months after the positive cannabis drug test. This puts him on the shelf for the remainder of the CBA season, which ends in February,World News Australia reports.

The announcement that Williams was suspended was made yesterday, although the drug test was conducted on December 9.

According to AP, this is the first drug suspension in the CBA’s 17-year history.

Williams, 26, who played two years for the University of Arizona and made All-Pac-10 First Team in his sophomore year, released the following statement about testing positive for pot:

“To all the CBA fans, Shanxi fans, sponsors, as well as my coaches and players, I sincerely apologize. I have let a lot of people down and I regret it.”

He also reportedly vowed to “improve and grow from this.”

The NBA is far more lenient on those caught smoking weed. Players only get suspended after a third positive test and just for five games, SBNation reports.

Williams, a 6’7? swing man, was a member of the Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, and Charlotte Bobcats and in the NBA D-League for the Austin Toros before going to China.

Do you think that suspending professional basketball players for smoking pot is within reason or is it disproportionate to the offense? Is a six-month ban reasonable?

[Image credit: Everlost]