Araujo finishing steroid suspension

Center tested clean at Y. after '02 discipline

Published: Monday, July 12, 2004 11:08 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Former BYU center Rafael Araujo, who was selected with the eighth pick by the Toronto Raptors in this year's NBA draft, has served 23 months of a two-year ban from playing internationally after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone during the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, the Toronto Star has reported.

According to Brett Pyne, BYU sports information director, BYU coaches became aware after signing Araujo, but before he arrived on campus to play for the Cougars, that international basketball officials were concerned about a substance found in Araujo's blood. BYU's understanding was that Araujo had been taking an over-the-counter supplement.

The NCAA also was aware of the concern and began testing Araujo when he enrolled at BYU.

"The NCAA tests a lot of athletes, but he's one they made sure got tested," Pyne said.

For that reason, BYU officials are confident that Araujo was using no illegal or banned supplements in his two years of playing for BYU. "If that testing had shown substances not allowed and had it been a continuing problem he would not have been eligible to play," Pyne said.

The newspaper also reported that Araujo has tested clean in NCAA tests during his two seasons at BYU.

Story continues below

Araujo was one of three players suspended by FIBA, the international basketball federation.

"In each case, the implicated athlete acknowledged the fact that he ingested supplements ignoring the fact that these supplements contained androgenic anabolic steroid agents," FIBA said in a press release.

His NBA career is not in question, as the NBA does not test its players for steroids.


CONTRIBUTING: Jim Rayburn

Recent comments

I know I am commenting on this now, but still.

Anonymous | Nov. 13, 2007 at 2:27 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Hatch pushes natural gas incentives

Hatch moved-- is he really still awake?? He must be coming up for election!!!

I'm good with this trade if we can weasel Martell Webster or Rudy Fernandez...

@Freedom70 at 5:02 The court case was District of Columbia v. Heller. ...

I called it last year in 2008. I predicted 11-2 again with losses to Utah and...

UHP offered love, care

I think your comment was totally out of line CHristopher... I've had that...

I get this quaestion often as an independent consultant for plastic surgery....

Unemploymenmt cv calculation has notheing to do with those receiving...

good move by the Jazz. He's a quality player and person. He spreads the...

Utah Jazz sign Okur to two-year extension

Okur can't play under the basket-- if you watch European Basketball they all...

Every time something intelligent is said, it doesn't get posted. I have a...

Advertisements