A basketballer, Tukaha Cooper, has been suspended by the Sports Tribunal for one month for the presence of cannabis, being a prohibited substance. The period of ineligibility represents a reduced sanction due to cannabis being a substance of abuse and it being taken out of competition and unrelated to sports performance. Mr Cooper completed a substance of abuse treatment programme approved by the Commission which meant that he could receive a further reduction from three months down to a one-month period of ineligibility. The period of ineligibility was backdated to commence on 24 October 2024 (the date Mr Cooper voluntary accepted provisional suspension) and thus ended on 24 November 2025, meaning Mr Cooper has served the ineligibility period.
