Xavier Cooks suspended 'effective immediately'

• Xavier Cooks will miss Sydney Kings win-or-go-home clash at Adelaide 36ers
• Cooks is a former NBL MVP
• He played for the Washington Wizards in the NBA

Sydney Kings superstar and former NBL MVP Xavier Cooks has been handed a "mandatory provisional suspension, effective immediately."

The suspension comes after Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) notified him of an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) and a potential violation of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy (ANADP). There is no indication of what the potential violation is.

The suspension is a devastating blow to the Kings' chances of winning the NBL25 championship.

They face the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday at Qudos Bank Arena in a one-and-done knock-out final.

Cooks, 29, averaged 15.4 points per game on 57% from the field, 3.9 assists and 8.7 rebounds in the regular season.

He was not at the NBL25 Awards at Centrepiece last night in Melbourne where he was named to the NBL25 Second Team.

Basketball Australia said: "The matter is now progressing in accordance with the ANADP.

"No further comment will be made by the athlete, NBL, Sydney or BA and we request the privacy of all parties involved be respected."

What is the AAF

An Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), as defined by Sport Integrity Australia, occurs when a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers are detected in an athlete's sample during doping control. This means the sample analysis has identified the presence of a banned substance that is not naturally expected in the athlete’s system.

However, an AAF does not automatically mean an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). It may have legitimate explanations, such as a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) or a departure from testing procedures. Each case undergoes further review before determining if an anti-doping rule has been violated.

What is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy

The Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective from 1 January 2021, establishes a unified set of anti-doping rules across all sports in Australia. It aligns with the World Anti-Doping Code 2021 to ensure consistency in anti-doping efforts nationwide. ‍

Key Elements of the Policy:

• Scope and Application: The policy applies to all athletes, athlete support personnel, and other individuals involved with sports organisations under the Sporting Administration Body's jurisdiction. This includes participants in events organised or recognised by these bodies, regardless of their location.

• Anti-Doping Rule Violations: The policy outlines specific violations, such as the presence or use of prohibited substances, refusal to submit to testing, and trafficking of prohibited substances or methods.

• Responsibilities: Athletes are responsible for being aware of and complying with anti-doping rules, including understanding which substances and methods are prohibited. Ignorance is not considered a valid excuse.

• Testing and Investigations: Sport Integrity Australia is authorised to conduct testing and investigations to enforce the policy.

• Sanctions: Consequences for violations can include disqualification of results, periods of ineligibility, and financial penalties, depending on the severity of the violation.

• Education: The policy emphasises the importance of education programs to inform athletes and associated personnel about anti-doping rules and promote a culture of clean sport.

Who is Xavier Cooks

Xavier Cooks departed the Sydney Kings as a two-time championship-winning captain and NBL MVP at the end of the NBL23 season. Now, after gaining experience in the NBA and Japan, he returns for NBL25 as a highly decorated player. The 29-year-old won two championships with the Kings, earning Grand Final MVP honours in 2022 and league MVP in 2023.

Although born in Ballarat, Victoria, Cooks primarily grew up in Wollongong, where his father played and later coached at the Illawarra Hawks. After finishing school, he joined the Centre of Excellence in 2014.

He then attended Winthrop University in South Carolina, where he spent four years. During that time, he was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team in 2015, earned First Team All-Big South honors in both 2017 and 2018, and was named Big South Player of the Year in 2018.

Cooks began his professional career in Germany with s.Oliver Würzburg, playing 54 games during the 2018-19 season before joining the Kings for NBL20.

His growth with the Kings was remarkable. He progressed from averaging 6.7 points and 9.0 rebounds in 24 minutes per game in NBL20 to 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 21 minutes in NBL21. By NBL22, he was producing 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 28.7 minutes per game.

He played a key role in the Kings’ NBL22 championship run and followed it up with a dominant season in the NZ NBL with the Wellington Saints, where he was named MVP.

In NBL23, Cooks was named league MVP, averaging 15.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while leading the Kings to another championship as captain. His performances earned him a contract with the Washington Wizards, where he played 10 games to close out the 2022-23 NBA season.

Following his NBA stint, he signed with the Chiba Jets in Japan before now making his return to the Kings for NBL25.