Tall Black Taane Samuel has been banned for a month after testing positive for MDMA during the NBL basketball season.
Tall Blacks player Taane Samuel in action for the Wellington Saints in the NBL. Photo: Photosport.
Samuel tested positive for MDMA commonly known as Ecstasy while playing for the Wellington Saints in the NBL, in May.
In a decision by the Sports Tribunal announced today Samuel attributed his positive test to a spiked drink he'd been given at a party a couple of days prior.
Samuel also played for the Brisbane Bullets in the ANBL.
Drug Free Sport New Zealand accepted that the MDMA was taken out-of-competition and not intended to give Samuel an athletic advantage.
Samuel has already entered a programme to address his drug use meaning his suspension finished on September 19.
Failure to complete the programme will result in a three-month suspension.