The NBA suspended the salaries of Terry Rozier, player of the Miami Heat, and Chauncey Billups, coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, pending the evolution of the FBI investigation, which arrested them last week for two separate cases, respectively of illegal betting and rigged poker games, as reported by ESPN this Wednesday.
Both Rozier and Billups were removed from their respective teams within hours of their cases being dismantled.
The NBA Players Association (NBPA) assured the aforementioned source, through a spokesperson, that it plans to appeal this decision, considering it a violation of the presumption of innocence.
“While we share with the league that preserving the integrity of the sport is of utmost importance, the decision to remove Terry without pay is against the presumption of innocence and does not respect the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. We plan to appeal the decision through the appropriate channels,” the spokesperson said.
Info:
NBA to review policies following federal charges, arrests for illegal betting
Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested Thursday of last week by the FBI as part of two separate investigations related to illegal gambling and mob-organized poker games, respectively.
Rozier was arrested in connection with an illegal betting ring based on confidential information and alleged match manipulation.
For his part, Billups allegedly participated in rigged poker games organized by the mafia, in which high-tech devices were used, such as X-ray cameras and machines to determine the order of the cards.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver declared a day after the arrests that he felt “deep concern” about the arrest of the two figures from the professional basketball league.
With information from EFE.
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