Report: Calathes' steroid suspension could be related to baldness treatment

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Nick Calathes was suspended last week, ahead of the NBA playoffs, for the use of a banned substance, something his camp called unfair and said they plan to appeal.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, one part of such an appeal may be that the over-the-counter yet banned substance that Calathes tested positive for, Tamoxifen, came from something Calathes was using to treat his baldness.

From the Sentinel:

By that, I mean he's going bald and doesn't like it. So he took Rogaine or minoxidil or some sort of baldness treatment. It contained tamoxifen, a prescription drug normally used to treat breast cancer. It is one of approximately 140 items on the NBA's banned list.

For privacy reasons, nobody has publicly said Calathes' "medical issue" is baldness. But all you have to do is listen to the whispers and take a look at him.

"He's going bald at 24," one person said. "Nobody wants to do that."

That report certainly seems speculative, but it's not like this would be the first time an athlete leaned on impending baldness as a way to try and wiggle out of a suspension. Jose Theodore, then the goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, used that defense back in 2006.

The unfortunate part for Calathes, though, is that regardless of the reason, he took a banned substance. Team #PlayBald will gladly embrace him, especially now that he, too, appears to be embracing his baldness.

[Dap: PBT]