NBPA won't appeal Noah suspension, calls positive test 'regrettable mistake'

The National Basketball Players Association said Saturday that New York Knicks center Joakim Noah "did not intentionally or knowingly violate any policy" of the CBA by testing positive for a banned substance, but that it won't appeal his suspension.

Noah has been suspended 20 games without pay by the NBA as a result of a positive test for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator LGD-4033.

"Joakim was completely forthcoming and cooperative throughout the investigation and we believe that this isolated occurrence was a regrettable mistake," the union said in a statement. "Joakim has offered his deepest apologies for this infraction, and neither he nor the NBPA will pursue an appeal.”

Before Noah can start serving the suspension, the league must determine that he is physically able to play; the 32-year-old is still recuperating from left knee surgery he underwent last month. Per NBA rules, a suspension can only count for games a player would be able to play in. Any games not served this season would carry over to next.

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator LGD-4033 is an otherwise legal supplement that is banned by the NBA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) because of its similarities to anabolic steroids. Noah has missed 94 games over the past three seasons due to various injuries.

Despite that, the Knicks signed the big man to a four-year, $72-million contract last summer. Noah stands to lose about $2.5 million in salary due to the suspension.