Kings skipper Cooks could face more punishment

Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks could face further potential punishment from the club after he received a one-month ban following a positive test for cocaine, Matt Logue from Code Sports has revealed.

Sources confirmed to Code Sports that Cooks has served the majority of his four-week ban for using illicit drugs outside of competition while being provisionally suspended since early February.

The 2019 NBL MVP was stood down for a potential anti-doping violation after returning an adverse analytical finding to a banned substance – just two days before he was to lead the Kings’ in a sudden-death clash against Adelaide.

It’s understood Sydney officials have expressed a desire to retain Cooks – who still has two seasons left on his contract as the NBL’s highest paid player on over $1 million a season.

However, the star forward – who played 10 NBA games for the Washington Wizards in 2023 – could cop an additional punishment from the Kings.

Cooks’ situation comes as the World Anti-Doping agency is currently reviewing its rules around illicit drugs, such as cocaine, where athletes will receive a mandatory stand down of one to two months.

The Kings had put Cooks’ absence from the club’s final-round clash against Illawarra down to ‘personal leave’ but Basketball Australia later confirmed the 29-year-old was subject to the national anti-doping authority process.

For the full story visit Code Sports Basketball.