US basketball players Troy Gillenwater and Montrezl Harrell test positive for cannabis in Chinese Basketball Association league

Two US basketball players—Montrezl Dashay Harrell and Troy Akeem Gillenwater—tested positive for banned substances during in-competition testing by the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency in April. The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) confirmed the doping offenses and will await the agency's decision before it issues disciplinary action. Both of the banned substances detected are carboxy-THC, a cannabis metabolite prohibited in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Chinese Basketball Association officially announced on Tuesday that two of its foreign signings, Xinjiang Flying Tigers' Montrezl Dashay Harrell and Guangdong Southern Tigers' Troy Akeem Gillenwater, both tested positive for carboxy-THC in in-competition testing. Both were tested in April and relinquished their "B" sample analysis rights. Carboxy-THC, as it occurs naturally in cannabis, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for competition. The detection of this psychoactive cannabinoid in the system of a competitor constitutes an immediate doping offense under global anti-doping rules. Montrezl Harrell, a veteran NBA player, was among this season's biggest signings for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. A player who caused quite a stir during his time with high-flying plays and won the Karl Malone Award in 2015 with the Louisville Cardinals, Harrell's positive result could jeopardize his overseas prospects. Troy Gillenwater, a one-time college basketball player at New Mexico State University who has since established a worldwide career with stops in numerous overseas leagues, was playing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers when the positive test was logged. His test was conducted just one day after Harrell's. The CBA stated unequivocally its zero-tolerance stance regarding doping in a forcefully worded statement: “The CBA firmly opposes any form of doping violations and maintains a zero-tolerance stance on anti-doping efforts. We are committed to safeguarding the integrity and fairness of basketball and will not tolerate any breaches of anti-doping rules.”Also read: Cooper Flagg gets Kendrick Perkins' wild fantasy fusion comparison to NBA legends LeBron James and KevinThis matter is an important development in the CBA's growing practice of punishing for international anti-doping rules, particularly against foreign players competing in its premier domestic league. The two players will have to wait for the final penalties, but this matter serves as a warning to international athletes playing under WADA terms in foreign competition. More clarification will emerge once the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency has made its decision.