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Grizzlies' Calathes set to return from suspension Sunday

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Nick Calathes is coming back to a job that may no longer be his.

Calathes will return to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday following the completion of the 20-game suspension handed down to him last April, but he may have lost his role as backup point guard to Beno Udrih.

Calathes was suspended after testing positive for the banned substance tamoxifen, according to the reports at the time of the suspension. Tamoxifen is an ingredient found in an over-the-counter athletic supplement. According to the players' union, who initially called the punishment an injustice, it's not used with intent to gain an unfair advantage.

In April, a report stated that Calathes triggered the positive text for tamoxifen by taking a hair-growth supplement to combat balding.

Whatever the case, Calathes has served his time and will be back with the Grizzlies when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

"I'm happy to be back," Calathes told Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal on Saturday. "They're rolling. I want to do whatever I can to help keep it going."

Unfortunately for the Florida product, the Grizzlies are playing extremely well, and he may have been usurped as the team's backup point guard. When Calathes was suspended, the team gave extended run to Udrih, later re-signing him for the 2014-15 season.

Udrih has been solid behind starter Mike Conley this year, averaging 7.6 points and 2.7 assists in 18.1 minutes off the bench. At worst, Calathes would be the team's number three point guard, but he may have a tough road back to a consistent place in head coach Dave Joerger's rotation.

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