Tall Black suspended for cannabis use

Mark Dickel

Mark Dickel has been suspended from New Zealand's two-match basketball series against Qatar after testing positive for cannabis use.

Dickel was randomly tested after a Tall Blacks' test against Australia in Napier last month and his A sample has produced a positive result, Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) said today.

BBNZ said while his B sample had not yet returned from the testing laboratory, Dickel had admitted the offence and accepted violating the Tall Blacks team code.

"We encourage the Tall Blacks to act as role models for young Kiwis and this is clearly not what we stand for," New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin said.

"From our point of view, it is extremely disappointing.

"Mark knows he has let a lot of people down and must now face the consequences."

The veteran point guard will take no active part in the series against Qatar, that starts tonight in Dunedin before the second test in Invercargill on Sunday.

BBNZ said Dickel had advised Drug Free Sport New Zealand he would not dispute the testing procedures and awaited the official result of tests on his B sample.

- NZPA