Wednesday, October 1, 1997
Bruins’ suspension remains unexplained
Officials refuse to comment on reason for McCoy’s, Johnson’s
abrupt suspensions
By Traci Mack
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Like blind jump shots fired from half court, speculations on the
cause of two UCLA basketball starters’ suspensions were tossed
about wildly on Tuesday.
Junior Jelani McCoy, a 6-foot, 9 1/2-inch center, and senior
Kris Johnson, a 6-foot-4 swingman, were suspended indefinitely on
Monday without explanation from the UCLA Athletic Department. It
came as a giant blow to the Bruin basketball team, which loses the
only center listed on its roster, as well as a talented swingman
and projected team leader.
While The Long Beach Press-Telegram reported that the suspension
is due to McCoy and Johnson testing positive for marijuana usage on
more than one occasion, many are unsatisfied with this
explanation.
Random drug testing is performed on all student athletes at NCAA
schools. However, if an athlete tests positive for drug abuse, he
or she is subject to suspension by the NCAA for at least one
year.
Had they tested positive at the NCAA tournament last year,
Johnson and McCoy would have been suspended. However, rules
regarding UCLA Athletics’ internal testing procedures differ.
According to testing protocol, the first positive test results
are known only by the athlete and physician. With a second or third
positive test, the head coach and associate athletic director are
notified and the athlete’s financial aid may not be renewed the
following year. It is only with the fourth positive test that the
director of athletics is notified and the athlete is suspended from
participation in all athletic activities. Mandatory counseling
accompanies any positive test results.
In addition to the alleged drug usage, several papers have
reported multiple fights involving Johnson over the past year.
Freshman point guard Earl Watson was reportedly party to one
confrontation this summer. Most recently, witnesses link Johnson to
another fight at the Saxon Residential Suites on Sept. 22.
However, these incidents do not offer insight to McCoy’s
suspension. While McCoy was reported to have been present at the
Saxon incident, the degree of his involvement has yet to be
determined.
Officials will not elaborate on whether McCoy and Johnson are
being punished for the same offense. However, media reports have
speculated that the suspensions could potentially last the duration
of the season.
"We won’t comment in any of the media. The two young men have a
right to their privacy, and it’s unfortunate that people feel the
need to speculate on the reasons for the suspensions," said Sports
Information Director Marc Dellins of the media conjecture.
McCoy’s shot-blocking ability and Johnson’s knack for firing
from behind the three-point line will be missed, but perhaps more
significant is the extensive experience they would bring to the
court.
Neither player may participate in any team activities, including
practices and meetings. The loss of McCoy and Johnson, coupled with
the uncertain status of forward Schea Cotton, leaves the Bruins
with J.R. Henderson and Toby Bailey as the only experienced players
on the team.
Many believe that Johnson and McCoy will be reinstated early in
the season. If their suspensions last throughout the entire Fall
Quarter, they would be back in time to play in the Bruins’ fifth
game.