Marc Stein from ESPN breaks the news. Read the story here. Here's the quote.
Sources say that all 30 teams were notified this week by league memorandum that the drug which earned Portland Trail Blazers castoff Darius Miles a 10-game suspension to start next season -- if Miles can find a job -- is the appetite suppressant phentermine.
A weight-loss drug, basically.
Steep as a 10-game ban is, then, Miles' choice is nothing bound to scare teams away from signing him. Miles has tried out for at least four clubs already this month -- Boston, Dallas, New Jersey and Phoenix -- and is expected to command no more than a minimum salary anyway in his comeback from longstanding knee problems because the 26-year-old still has $18 million in salary coming from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The weight of this story is just too much for me. I'm at a loss for words.
UPDATE: Here's some information about phentermine courtesy of wikipedia
It is approved as an appetite suppressant to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. It is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight and works by helping to release certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.
...
Generally, phentermine appears to be relatively well tolerated. It can produce side effects consistent with its catecholamine-releasing properties, e.g., tachycardia (increased heart rate) and elevated blood pressure, but the incidence and magnitude of these appear to be less than with the amphetamines. Because phentermine acts through sympathomimetic pathways, the drug may increase blood pressure and heart rate. It may also cause palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia. Additionally, phentermine has the potential to cause physical and psychological dependence.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)