Nets forward Wilson Chandler slapped with 25-game doping suspension

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 6, 2013, Wilson Chandler of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket. Chandler, currently with the Brooklyn Nets, was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA on August 29, 2019, after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug Ipamorelin, the league announced. (Photo by Jared Wickerham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA on Thursday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug Ipamorelin, the league announced.

The violation of the NBA and NBA Players Association anti-drug program involved a growth hormone drug.

Chandler’s ban will begin with the next NBA regular-season game for which he is eligible and physically able to play. He was limited last season by a hamstring injury.

Chandler signed a one-year contract with the Nets last month, joining the club whose major off-season additions were injured superstar Kevin Durant and former Boston and Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving.

The 32-year-old American was selected 23rd overall by New York in the 2007 NBA Draft and is preparing to start his 12th NBA campaign.

After nearly four seasons with the Knicks, Chandler was traded to Denver in 2011. During a lockout later that year, Chandler went to China and played for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions.

Chandler returned to the NBA and played six seasons in Denver before seeing time with Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers last season.

He has career averages of 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game.