Tarpley Practices With the Mavericks, but Status With Team Remains Unclear
Dallas Maverick forward Roy Tarpley, a two-time National Basketball Assn. drug offender who disappeared for several hours Friday, appeared as promised at practice Saturday and said he had spent the day at his mother’s home.
If Tarpley fails a drug test or refuses to take one, he would be suspended for life from the NBA.
The league drug policy, despite the lifetime ban, allows for a player’s reinstatement after two years.
Tarpley telephoned General Manager Norm Sonju Friday, apologizing for his absence and saying he would be at Saturday’s practice.
The team fined Tarpley $250 for missing practice.
Tarpley, 24, first sought help for cocaine and alcohol dependency the summer of 1987. On Jan. 5, 1989, he sought help again, was suspended and missed much of the season while undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation center in California and counseling in Dallas.
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