St. John's suspends Chris Obekpa for 2 weeks for violating team rules

[OrangeXtreme]

St. John's has suspended junior center Chris Obekpa for two weeks for violation of team rules.

The school announced Sunday that the suspension would include any postseason games this season until March 29. Most experts, including syracuse.com's Patrick Stevens, have St. John's as an at-large team in the NCAA Tournament.

"Chris has been suspended for a violation of team rules," coach Steve Lavin said. "All of the young men associated with our program are held to standards consistent with the aims and mission of our University. Accountability is tied to the decision making of our student-athletes. It is our hope Chris will learn from this experience."

http://www.syracuse.com/sports/inde...ks_for_violating_team_rules.html#incart_river

 

[two3zone]

Probably for wearing those short shorts.

 

[Cheriehoop]

St John's has had a number of issues with their players - Harrison, Sampson, Obeka etc. Obeka had announced at the end of last season in April that he was transferring and was even granted his release but changed his mind a few weeks later after a number of discussions with Lavin. Their fans are not happy with Lavin at all.

 

[SUMBA]

I bet they don't self report the issues to the NCAA.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Well, Lavin now has a built in excuse. I think he's gone at the end of the year. Barnes at Texas is another coach who's in big trouble even if they win a game in the tournament.

 

[Toga]

Lavin would get to spend more time at home - which isn't all bad.

 

[Shark58]

Obekpa was once at an airport withing 6 hours of when Fab Melo was there


NCAA violation!!!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille ·
As first reported by the @nypost, #sjubb Chris Obekpa done for postseason after failing drug test for marijuana use: http://nypost.com/2015/03/15/st-johns-shocker-defensive-force-obekpa-suspended-2-weeks/…

 

[orangefan13]

Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille ·
As first reported by the @nypost, #sjubb Chris Obekpa done for postseason after failing drug test for marijuana use: http://nypost.com/2015/03/15/st-johns-shocker-defensive-force-obekpa-suspended-2-weeks/…

st johns will never make another post season if they start doing things like that.

Although I kinda hope ny decides marijuana is legal in the next 2 weeks so we can appeal for it. I would gladly help st johns out with that. win win.

what is college ball going to become a roulette wheel now, spin the wheel and decide what teams are elgible come march? Maybe we will get lucky one year.

 

[Madbiker]

Zach Braziller @NYPost_Brazille ·
As first reported by the @nypost, #sjubb Chris Obekpa done for postseason after failing drug test for marijuana use: http://nypost.com/2015/03/15/st-johns-shocker-defensive-force-obekpa-suspended-2-weeks/…

St. Johns' voluntary drug policy probably says a 2 week suspension for a positive test...and we all know now that has to be followed no matter what.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

To be fair, If you go to St John's , you sort of have to smoke some now and then to survive.

 

[rrlbees]

St. Johns' voluntary drug policy probably says a 2 week suspension for a positive test...and we all know now that has to be followed no matter what.

Smart move by SJU. If he was randomly tested by the NCAA during the tournament, a positive test is a 1 year ban for the player. Not sure what the team penalty is not how the player is penalized if a senior.

 

[CaptainJ]

To be fair, If you go to St John's , you sort of have to smoke some now and then to survive.

My sources say there was a rumor that he got a contact high from being stuck on the same shuttle bus as Fab Melo when their paths briefly crossed.

 

[Orange Barrel]

Smart move by SJU. If he was randomly tested by the NCAA during the tournament, a positive test is a 1 year ban for the player. Not sure what the team penalty is not how the player is penalized if a senior.

I thought the NCAA didn't have a drug policy.

 

[CaptainJ]

I thought the NCAA didn't have a drug policy.

Possibly they start random testing during the tournament?

 

[rrlbees]

I thought the NCAA didn't have a drug policy.

They certainly do. They randomly test 1 or more players on every team that participates in an NCAA event. It's done after each game.

 

[Jake]

Which is why every school needs a drug testing program. You need to know this before the dance starts. SJU obviously tested Obekpa just after the BET.

 

[rrlbees]

Which is why every school needs a drug testing program. You need to know this before the dance starts. SJU obviously tested Obekpa just after the BET.

Yep, you want to find out yourself and not the NCAA. Most disagree but I think you need to have a drug policy. Thing is though, you need to follow it.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Yep, you want to find out yourself and not the NCAA. Most disagree but I think you need to have a drug policy. Thing is though, you need to follow it.

Just wondering. Can you have drug testing without a written policy?

 

[Cowtown]

I bet they don't self report the issues to the NCAA.

Gee, that only took 4 posts

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Lavin's running a renegade program.

 

[rrlbees]

Just wondering. Can you have drug testing without a written policy?

Not sure on that. It would seem like it's not an ncaa thing but if you don't have a policy when a kid signs, then you can't make a kid test. Probably something to do with privacy.

 

[OttoMets]

Jake and Bees are right - this is why you test under the terms of a school policy.

 

[OttoMets]

Just wondering. Can you have drug testing without a written policy?

That's a good question. As I understand it, the answer is no. Anyone who's currently involved with university athletics should correct me if I'm wrong, but ten years ago this was prohibited.

Kind of like having your cake and eating it too - if a school gets the benefit of having the information from drug testing, it needs to be part of a written policy.

 

[dollarbill44]

Smart move by SJU. If he was randomly tested by the NCAA during the tournament, a positive test is a 1 year ban for the player. Not sure what the team penalty is not how the player is penalized if a senior.

A 1 year ban for a positive pot test is just ridiculous. Even for E. Washington and Gonzaga?