Xavier Cooks, a key player for the Sydney Kings, has been provisionally suspended following a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, severely impacting the NBL team just as the finals are about to begin. Basketball Australia announced that Sport Integrity Australia notified Cooks of an adverse finding, which breaches the national anti-doping policy effective immediately, rendering him unavailable for the Kings’ upcoming finals match against the Adelaide 36ers.
Cooks, who was awarded grand final MVP in 2022 and the league MVP in 2023, has been instrumental in the Kings’ success, helping them achieve back-to-back NBL championships. This season, he ranks second in blocks and fourth in rebounds, alongside averaging 15.4 points per game, second only to Jaylen Adams.
Despite his strong performances, Cooks has narrowly missed out on representing the Boomers in the Olympics, being included in preliminary squads for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 but ultimately not making the final teams. The news of his suspension poses a significant challenge for the Kings as they strive to maintain their championship aspirations.