BREAKING NEWS: Arizona’s Allonzo Trier is suspended indefinitely after having trace amounts of a banned substance that got him suspended last year.
Amidst the uncertainty of the ongoing FBI probe, more bad news has come forth for the Arizona Basketball team. On Thursday, it was announced that Allonzo Trier has been declared ineligible by the NCAA.
After a recent drug test, the test results came back positive, finding trace amounts of a banned substance that ruled him out last year.
Following the findings, the school released a statement regarding the situation.
Here is Arizona’s statement on Allonzo Trier being ruled ineligible and the school is appealing the decision with the hopes he will be able to return pic.twitter.com/8fPfqneAWZ
— Matt Moreno (@MattRMoreno) February 22, 2018
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As if things couldn’t get any worse, the Wildcats will now have to compete without Trier moving forward, and his eligibility in question.
If you recall, Trier was suspended last year, after unknowingly taking a banned substance while recovering from a car accident the offseason prior. Trier didn’t make his first appearance last year until the UCLA game, missing the previous 19 games.
The news comes at a tough time, especially as the Wildcats currently sit atop the Pac-12 with a game lead over the USC Trojans, with four conference games left on the year.
The loss is also a big one. So far this season, Trier has been having a great year, averaging 19 points, while shooting over 50 percent from the field. That sort of production is going to be hard to replace, especially from a team that has had some depth issues this season
It is worth noting that according to Sports.yahoo.com, “Ostarine can be stored in fatty tissues for a long time, and tests can be negative but then later be positive as the substance comes out. The medical evidence also shows that the reappearance of a trace amount in his system now creates absolutely zero competitive advantage.”
Pat Forde spoke with Trier's lawyer, who had some interesting things to say including that the drug was the steroid Ostarine, and that Trier took the test early in the morning while dehydrated, among other things. https://t.co/sZeOTJ3otE
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) February 23, 2018
Following the decision, Trier’s mom Marcie, addressed the allegation, and made this statement to ESPN.
Marcie Trier's statement to ESPN on her son, Allonzo's, suspension by the NCAA: pic.twitter.com/IyNUdZdq93
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 23, 2018
The University of Arizona will appeal the decision by the NCAA, so there is at least hope, despite the outcome not being very promising at this point, especially with this being reported.
From the Yahoo article:
— stunna (@stunnaIo) February 23, 2018
"We’ve asked the NCAA’s medical panel to review the case – as the rules provide – and the NCAA has refused."
So far, we don’t know much regarding the situation except for what is being reported by the school. There is a lot of information out there so far, and if we learned anything from last year, some of it is misinformation, and rumors will undoubtedly be circulating.
For now, we will have to wait, and try to be as patient as possible.
Must Read: More on Arizona Basketball
At Zona Zealots, we’re certainly frustrated by the news, especially as the Wildcats hope to compete for the elusive Final Four. We’re just hopeful he can return quickly! Bear Down, Arizona!