Tristan Thompson Suspended by Cleveland Cavaliers for 25 Games After Violating NBA’s Anti-Drug Program

James Crowley

January 23, 2024 1:22PM EST

Brian To/Shutterstock

The Cavs power forward will need to sit out for 25 games after testing positive for two different substances following a drug test from the NBA.

Tristan Thompson was suspended from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, January 23. The NBA announced that the power forward, 32, will not be allowed to play for 25 games, after he tested positive for two substances, breaking the rules of the NBA and the NBA Player’s Association’s Anti-Drug program.

The NBA said that the Cavs player had tested positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. The league revealed that Tristan would be suspended for all 25 games without pay in a statement. The organization said that the first game he would sit out would be the Cavaliers’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, January 24.

Ibutamoren, also known as MK-677, is a drug that “promotes the secretion of the growth hormone” and ” increases insulin-like growth factor 1,” according to Transform You. It can be used to build muscle and bone density. It also improves sleep and combats aging. SARM LGD-4033 is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the NCAA. It is “used to increase energy, improve athletic performance, increase muscle growth, and for other uses,” according to WebMD.

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Khloe Kardashian, Tristan Thompson & Daughter True: Their Cute Family Photos

PREMIUM EXCLUSIVE: Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson take daughter True to sister Kim's Paw Patrol premiere as rumors continue about them rekindling their romance. The on-off couple looked happy and relaxed as they joined members of the Kardashian clan for the private screening. Khloe and pro basketball player Tristan were first linked in 2016 when they were spotted spending time together at a nightclub, and they later took a vacation in Mexico. The two confirmed that they were dating that same year and remained very close through much of 2017. The reality television personality eventually confirmed that she was pregnant with the athlete's child that December through a post made to her Instagram account. Kardashian revealed that she was expecting a girl during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians that aired the following year. In 2018, it was reported that Thompson was spotted kissing multiple women in several locations, which surprised the clothing designer. That year, she gave birth to True, and the parents later reconciled following the child's birth. Although the two appeared to be going strong in their new roles as parents, the basketball player, just traded to the Sacramento Kings in California, was later caught cheating with several other women, and the two split up in February of 2019. The pair appeared to mend their relationship over the course of that year and were reportedly on good terms by the beginning of 2020. The parents quarantined together during the early stages of the pandemic, and their romance was eventually resumed last August. Earlier this year, it was reported that the couple was planning on expanding their family in the future, although no solid plans have been revealed as of yet. This past June, it was revealed that Kardashian and Thompson had separated, although they were said to still be on good terms at the time of their split. 12 Aug 2021 Pictured: Tristan Thompson, Khloe Kardashian and daughter True. Photo credit: MEGA Th

Neither Tristan nor the Cavs have released a public comment on his suspension.

This is the second time that Tristan, who is also Khloé Kardashian’s ex, has played for Cleveland. He was first drafted by the team in 2011, and he played with them until 2020. He won a championship with them in 2016. After moving around with a few different teams, he returned to the Cavs in 2023 for his second stint. He was re-signed as a free agent at the start of the 2024 season, according to ESPN.

Tristan had recently changed his jersey number back to 13, which he had worn when he first joined the team. “Never let anything stop you from your vision. Manifested big things. We started here in the land together in 2011 and through thick and thin you were mine. Wearing any other number didn’t feel right. Back together, Number 13 forever,” he wrote in an Instagram post on January 15.