David Hawkins banned for 4 years

David Hawkins (194 cm, Temple’04) the guard for Galatasaray Medical Park Istanbul (Turkey, TBL, Eurocup) has received a four-year ban for doping. The Turkish Basketball Federation meted out the punishment after the American tested positive during an anti-doping test after the game against Royal Hali Gaziantep (Turkey, TBL) on the 22nd December 2012.

The four-year ban is a heavy punishment even in anti-doping cases, but the Turkish Basketball Federation took into consideration the history of David Hawkins before reaching a decision. This is the second time that Hawkins has failed doping tests after he was banned for 3 months while playing for Lottomatica Virtus Roma (Italy, Serie A) in 2007. On that occasion, Hawkins was found to be smoking cannabis and was not guilty of using performance-enhancing substances.

Nevertheless, the Turkish Disciplinary Committee felt that an example should be made of Hawkins, who has been one of the best players in Europe for several years. And a strong example it has proved to be as the 4-year ban probably also signals the end of the basketball career of 31-year old Hawkins. To learn more about the David Hawkins basketball bio and stats you can go to our Game Center.

FIBA could hand out a shorter ban that would mean Hawkins could play outside Turkey, but even the sports global body looks set to deal out a heavy two year (or more) ban. Either way, it seems Hawkins’ career is over unless he can reduce the ban through appeal, which at this point seems unlikely. While it was expected the Turkish Basketball Federation would hand out a heavy ban, most expected the American to be out for a year at the most, but a four-year ban has proved unprecedented.

David Hawkins has been one of the premier players in Europe since he left Temple University in 2004. The player has won several player of the season awards while playing for such European giants as Roma (2005-2008), Milano (2008-2009 and 2010-2011) and Siena (2009-2010) in Italy’s Serie A.