Former NBA champion Jeremy Lin has been suspended for five games for violating anti-doping rules regarding blood treatment for injuries, Taiwan's P.League+ reported.
The 35-year-old guard, who won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, was also fined NT$150,000 ($5,000).
Lin rose to worldwide fame in 2012 when he led the New York Knicks to a seven-game winning streak, sparking a cultural phenomenon known as “Linsanity.”
Born in the United States to Taiwanese immigrant parents, Lin made his debut in Taiwan's P. League+ last year and currently plays for the New Taipei Kings.
The league said in a statement that Lin underwent a type of blood radiation therapy to treat his injury, which is a violation of World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
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“Our investigation confirms that relevant treatment was arranged by the team and no prohibited substances were used,” the league said in a statement.
“However, that treatment did not comply with WADA regulations.”
The team apologized, saying the treatment was “not intended to improve performance, but solely to aid injury recovery.”
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The New Taipei Kings also said they were unaware that the treatment was not allowed under WADA regulations.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, this is legal.
Lin, a Harvard graduate, began his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors in 2010.
He played for several other NBA teams, including the Knicks, Raptors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Charlotte Hornets.
