Basketball: Lenient ban disappoints drug agency boss

The head of New Zealand's Sports Drugs Agency believes the two game suspension handed down to Tall Black basketballer Mark Dickel for Cannabis use is a bit lenient.

Dickel is free to play for the Tall Blacks at the World Champs in Japan later this week after being stood down for the two Qatar games at the weekend.

But Sports Drugs Agency head Doctor Dave Gerrard says the Sports Disputes Tribunal let Dickel off lightly. He says it provides a bad example to young athletes.

Dave Gerrard says Dickel is a silly man for considering that the use of cannabis is in any way fitting for a role model in sport.

The Tall Blacks leave for Japan on Thursday.

- NEWSTALK ZB