Basketball: Webster to miss champs after drugs suspension

Corey Webster is suspended for two months. Photo / APN

Guard Corey Webster has been ruled out of contention for the New Zealand men's squad for the world championship in Turkey after being suspended for two months for cannabis use.

With Webster having started serving a provisional suspension since June 23, the ban imposed by the Sports Tribunal runs through to August 23, five days before the Tall Blacks open their campaign against Lithuania.

Coach Nenad Vucinic yesterday said the North Harbour and New Zealand Breakers player was out of contention for the tournament, pointing out that the ban included not being able to practise.

"It's definitely disappointing for us not to have a choice of picking Corey in the team," he said. "He has made a wrong choice and unfortunately he has to pay for it as well as us and people around him."

Webster, 21, tested positive for cannabis use after a national league match between North Harbour and Hawke's Bay on June 21.

He admitted the violation during a hearing before the tribunal.

In Auckland for the start of three days of trials before the squad are named tomorrow, Vucinic said Webster was feeling "very remorseful" about what he had done.

"Corey is a good-hearted person and a good player," he said. "He made a big mistake and he's very much aware of that. I know he will learn from that and it will make him a better player and a better person."

He didn't see that the episode would affect Webster's international prospects further down the track.

The Tall Blacks were also hit by a cannabis-related suspension before the last world championships four years ago, when guard Mark Dickel missed two warm-up games and three matches in the tournament.

Basketball New Zealand chief executive Tim Hamilton said his organisation accepted the tribunal's decision.

He said BBNZ wanted to underline the key message in its submissions to the tribunal, namely that it was committed to education about the benefits of being drug-free in sport and it would not tolerate the taking of prohibited drugs.

"For this reason, we are continuing to work with Drug Free Sport to enhance our education for all members of the basketball community and remind them that BBNZ will continue to back this up with a zero tolerance approach to infringements."

BBNZ supported measures announced by the Breakers to counsel Webster and impose strict conditions, including community service, to assist him to rehabilitate.

- NZPA