Basketball: Tall Black suspended

Rick Rickert, pictured here playing for the Breakers. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

The Tall Blacks have received a couple of setbacks ahead of their departure next week for the World Basketball Championships in Turkey.

Tall Blacks guard Corey Webster has been suspended from all competition for two months following cannabis use.

The Sports Tribunal ruled that Webster knowingly used cannabis two days before an important NBL match.

As a result he will miss the World Championships.

The news comes on the heels of the unavailability of American forward Rick Rickert.

Rickert had hoped to have his residency approved to be part of the Tall Blacks squad.

However it is understood the paperwork hasn't come through and he will not be turning up to the team trials this weekend.

- NEWSTALK ZB