- Represented Australian baby boomers and played in the NBA
- Returned to Australia to play for the Kings of Sydney
- Was suspended on the eve of the NBL game tournament
The Australian Boomers star and former NBA player, Xavier Cooks, was temporarily suspended to play for the Kings of Sydney in the NBL final with immediate effect.
“A compulsory provisional suspension (immediately immediately) was imposed on Sydney Kings Player Xavier Cooks following the notification by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) of an unfavorable analytical conclusion (AAF) and a potential violation of national policy Australian Antidopage (ANADP), ‘Le NBL published in a press release.
“The case is now progressing in accordance with ANADP. No other comments will be made by the athlete, NBL, Sydney or BA and we ask for the privacy of all the parties involved.
The Sydney Kings also published a statement that was read: “Xavier Cooks was provisionally suspended due to an unfavorable analytical conclusion and a potential violation of the Australian national anti -doping policy.
“No other comments will be made for the moment, and we are asking for the confidentiality of all the parties involved.”
Cooks did not play the last regular NBL game against the Hawks Illawarra.
Xavier Cooks was suspended for a potential violation of Australian anti -doping policy while the Kings of Sydney are preparing for the NBL finals
Cooks spent time in the United States after obtaining a contract with Washington Wizards
The Kings said Cooks was on personal leave before admitting that he had been temporarily suspended on Tuesday.
The suspension comes a few days before the Kings game match with the 36ers of Adelaide.
Cooks has established itself as a dominant attacker in the NBL, playing a key role for the Kings of Sydney, where he won the MVP of the Grand Final NBL 2022 and helped secure the consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023.
Cooks was also part of the Australian boomers team that won a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
He was overlooked for the Paris Olympics campaign sentenced to boomers in 2024.
His impressive performances earned him an NBL MVP Prize in 2023, leading to a short -term contract with Washington Wizards in the NBA.
He returned to the Kings for the 2024/25 season and was appointed to the second All-NBL team before the final that begins tonight.
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