Spears to request B sample

SUPERLEAGUE star Adriana Spears, who reportedly tested positive for cocaine after a pre-Christmas game, is expected to request tomorrow that her B sample be opened.

Spears is reported to have failed a drug test after starring in Glanmire’s 68-62 victory over Superleague rivals Mercy Coolock on 27th November, but the intervening holiday period has held up the testing process. The 23-year-old American has until tomorrow to formally challenge the result of the November drug test, and her club expect her to do so when the offices of the Irish Sports Council open after the Christmas break.

All Superleague players sign up for testing and are given information on drugs by Basketball Ireland when they sign their licence applications. The Sports Council itself is in charge of the testing process but when that process is completed Basketball Ireland, the sport’s governing body, will then hold a disciplinary hearing on the Spears case.

Spears, who is believed to be currently in the US, is suspended until that disciplinary hearing can be held, and it is likely to be scheduled for the next fortnight. If the B sample is also positive and Spears is found guilty then she faces a mandatory two-year suspension in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines.

Spears, a 6 foot 1 forward, was the star of Glanmire’s recent run of good results. After the club started the season slowly she led the Cork side to three wins in a row and she was top scorer in each victory. She scored 24 points in the Cork club’s win over Mercy Coolock on the night of the drug test.