Tarpley Banned From Nba; This Time, It’s For Using Alcohol

Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley, already banned once by the NBA for cocaine use, was thrown out of the league again Wednesday for using alcohol.

By violating the terms of his aftercare agreement, the contract that was to pay him $23 million over the next five seasons was nullified.

Tarpley, 31, began the season on the suspended list because of a pancreas ailment that bothered him throughout the summer. On Nov. 6, he was transferred to the injured list, which allowed him to begin receiving his $3.9 million salary, and the 6-foot-11 center had been working out recently.

However, he tested positive for alcohol use three times, most recently last week, the NBA said.

Tarpley was banned in 1991 for using cocaine, played two years in Greece and was reinstated by commissioner David Stern last fall. He could apply to the NBA and the players’ association for reinstatement.

All-Star center David Robinson signed a multiyear contract that will keep him with the San Antonio Spurs the rest of his NBA career.

Details of the contract were not disclosed.