Basketball: Tall Blacks have to cope without Dickel

The Tall Blacks will have to learn to cope without Mark Dickel for today's second basketball international against Qatar, and most likely at the upcoming World Championships.

With Dickel's A and B samples testing positive for cannabis use, it will be up to a Sports Tribunal hearing to decide on a further punishment for the point guard.

Dickel's fate could be decided today - the tribunal is understood to be hearing Dickel's drugs case and will rule on his positive test and also the subsequent two-game ban.

It appears the suspension might be enough punishment, with Basketball New Zealand not wanting to take the case further.

The two-game ban falls within the International Basketball Federation's guidelines for cannabis use.

The Tall Blacks finalise their world championships squad later today.

Coach Tab Baldwin admits they were stuck when guard Paul Henare was not on the court in Friday's game, which was a concern, so they will have to work on another plan.

Tab Baldwin is not commenting on whether he will have Dickel for the World Champs in Japan next week or not.

He says he does not even know when the hearing will be.


- NEWSTALK ZB