‘Throw it out’: NBL star calls for huge drugs policy overhaul
NBL star Bryce Cotton has called on the league to follow the lead of its American counterpart and soften its ban on cannabis.
The NBL follows Sport Integrity Australia's (SIA) National Anti-Doping Policy, which outlaws the use of natural and synthetic cannabinoids in-competition. Players who test positive to cannabis face bans of up to four years.
NBL star Bryce Cotton has called for the league to shake up its drug policy. Getty Images for NBL
The SIA policy uses the same list of prohibited substances listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The SIA policy is followed by most Australian sporting bodies.
The US-based NBA has not tested for cannabis since 2023. Cotton said it was time for the NBL to follow suit and ditch the old policy.
“It would be great to throw it out,” he said on SEN South Australia’s The Run Home with Kymbo and Chad.
"It's not like it's a performance enhancing drug. So, simply put, why is it banned?"
A News Corp survey conducted in the NBL off-season revealed 73 per cent of players supported a change to the league’s drug policy.
Several respondents to the survey specifically mentioned cannabis.
Under the existing policy, the THC metabolite is only tested for in samples taken on game-day.
Earlier this year, Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks was suspended for a second time in less than two years after testing positive to THC just months after leading his team to the championship.
He served a one-month ban from June 4 to July 4 – entirely in the off-season. The test was reportedly taken following the Kings’ 91-89 loss in the second game of the championship against Cotton’s Adelaide 36ers on March 27.
Cotton, a six-time NBL MVP will begin his campaign to match the legendary Andrew Gaze’s all-time record of seven when the 36ers take on Melbourne United on Saturday.
The NBL’s MVP award is named in Gaze’s honour.
Cotton accepting his sixth NBL MVP award from Gaze - whom the award is named after - in February. Getty Images AsiaPac
Cotton said he feels “no pressure” to match Gaze, despite relentless comparisons between the two.
"What's funny is after I think I got my fourth … they've been mentioning Gaze's name ever since," Cotton said with a laugh.
“‘Is he gonna get five?’ He gets five. ‘Is he gonna get six?’ So of course now everybody is (asking) ‘Am I gonna tie him?’ But time tells all.
“As I always say about Gazey … he’s never going to hear me say a bad word about him or anything like that – it’s all respect.”
Cotton will begin his NBL27 campaign with the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night when the team takes on Melbourne United.
