O.J. Mayo Banned Two Seasons For Violating NBA Drug Policy

NBA free-agent guard O.J. Mayo, the No. 3 pick in the first round of the 2008 draft, has been "dismissed and disqualified" by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

Mayo, 28, has spent the last three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and was a free agent. He can apply to be reinstated in two years according to the league's press release. Mayo was suspended 10 games in 2011 for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, which he attributed to an energy drink.

According to the NBAs latest drug policy, it appears that Mayo tested positive for a "drug of abuse." "Drugs of abuse" include amphetamines (including, but not limited to methamphetamine and MDMA), cocaine, LSD, opiates and PCP. Marijuana and PEDs carry their own punishments. Had it been Mayo's second positive test for PED's, he would have served a 25-game suspension.

As ESPN's Brian Windhorst points out, Mayo's season came to an end due to an ankle injury which, according to the Bucks, happened while going down the stairs.

OJ Mayo missed the final month of season after he broke his ankle. Team release read he "accidentally tripped descending his stairs."

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2016

The last NBA player to serve such a suspension was Chris "Birdman" Andersen in 2006, then playing for the New Orleans Hornets. Anderson returned to the league in March of 2008 and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2013. Mayo becomes the 11th player to serve such a ban since 1986, when the league began enforcing a harsher drug policy to crack down on cocaine abuse.

Former teammates of Mayo have taken to twitter to react.

College teammate and current Chicago Bulls player Taj Gibson.

WTF OJ

— Taj Gibson (@TajGibson22) July 1, 2016

And friend and former high school teammate of Mayo's, Patrick Patterson of the Toronto Raptors.

Damn.

— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) July 1, 2016