RIDER FACING POSSIBLE LEAGUE SUSPENSION HE FAILS TO ADHERE TO AFTER-CARE DRUG POLICY.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer Lakers guard Isaiah Rider Isaiah Rider, Jr., sometimes known as J.R. Rider (born March 12, 1971 in Oakland, California) is an American former NBA basketball player, who played from 1993–2001. The 6'5" (1. has run afoul of a·foul of prep. 1. In or into collision, entanglement, or conflict with. 2. Up against; in trouble with: ran afoul of the law. the NBA's drug policy and is facing fines and a potential suspension, an NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= source confirmed Friday. No suspension is imminent, but if it happens, the Lakers might be inclined to waive Rider rather than endure another unneeded distraction. The case dates back to Rider's brief career with the Atlanta Hawks last season. A Hawks official caught Rider smoking marijuana in his hotel room in February and reported him to the league. Atlanta waived him six weeks later. Under the NBA's drug policy, a player who is caught using a banned substance banned substance n (SPORT) → sustancia prohibida banned substance n → sostanza al bando (nello sport) must adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. a strict after-care program to remain in good standing. Among the requirements are random testing and periodic meetings with an NBA counselor. The details of Rider's case are unclear, but according to the league source Rider has not complied with the requirements of his after-care program and that's the source of his current problem. On Jan. 17, two NBA officials came to the Lakers' El Segundo practice facility and delivered a letter to Rider informing him he was out of compliance and faced a potential five-game suspension if he did not cooperate immediately. Per league policy, Rider is being fined daily until he complies. Everyone involved declined to comment on the issue Friday. The NBA has strict confidentiality rules regarding its drug program and does not involve team officials in these cases. ``We would not know whether anything is or is not going on regarding any of our players that have anything to do with the anti-drug program,'' general manager Mitch Kupchak said. ``The collective-bargaining agreement expressly spells out that that information is held between the player, the league and the players association, and it's not shared with anybody.'' Arn Tellem, Rider's Los Angeles-based agent, was unavailable for comment. Rider did not show for the pregame media session Friday night as the Lakers prepared to play the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center. Reports of Rider's latest trouble first surfaced in Friday's editions of the New York Post The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and the oldest to have been published continually as a daily.[3] Since 1976, it has been owned by Australian-born billionaire Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and is one of the 10 . Billy Hunter, executive director of the players association, later issued a statement saying it would not comment on the story, ``other than to say that the report is filled with inaccuracies.'' The Lakers, desperate for a third scorer, signed Rider to a one-year contract Aug. 25, even as they acknowledged they had reservations about his shaky past. Since joining the Lakers, Rider's most serious offense has been constant tardiness Tardiness Dagwood comic strip character; chronically late at the office. [Comics: “Blondie” in Horn, 118] ten o’clock scholar schoolboy who habitually arrives late. [Nurs. . But it's his past malfeasance The commission of an act that is unequivocally illegal or completely wrongful. Malfeasance is a comprehensive term used in both civil and Criminal Law to describe any act that is wrongful. that could hasten the end of his Lakers career, if not his NBA career entirely. The league's marijuana policy calls for a first-time offender to enter the NBA's after-care program. A second offense results in a $15,000 fine and re-entry RE-ENTRY, estates. The resuming or retaking possession of land which the party lately had. 2. Ground rent deeds and leases frequently contain a clause authorizing the landlord to reenter on the non-payment of rent, or the breach of some covenant, when the into the program. Any additional offense brings a five-game suspension, plus re-entry into the program. But repeat offenders also can be kicked out of the NBA. The Lakers, who have a low tolerance for such behavior, probably won't wait that long and could act as soon as Rider draws his first drug-related suspension. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) RIDER |
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