At the outset here, it will be admitted that, if one wanted to be 100% factual, PG 8 would have been more appropriate given that thus is Paul George’s squad number with his current employers, the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the experienced forward is as much associated with some would term the unluckiest number of them all as the one six previous to it is revered by all connected to and supportive of Manchester United.
That said, PG 13 also came to mind in terms of where you often see that configuration as a movie ‘rating’. Because there appears to be something excessive bordering on the authoritarian about the NBA suspending George for 25 matches after it was discovered that some of the player’s mental health medication was found to contain at least traces of prohibited substances.
The player himself has been honest enough to comment “Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George said in the statement released to the network.He apologised to the team and its fans, saying he takes “full responsibility for my actions.”
It is of course admirable that the player would be open and upfront about his actions and/or ‘wrongdoing’, but here’s the thing – while I would in no way condone doping of any sort in sport, I do not believe that prescription medication should come under the remit of anti-doping policy. Especially in a case where the issue in question is a mental health one.
From personal experience, all too easily it can be vouched for just how difficult it can be to break the silence and the stigma about coming forward and opening up on such matters, so, for those even contemplating doing so to see somebody of the profile of Paul George being hit with a draconian, gargantuan rebuke won’t exactly imbue them with confidence that they are likely to get a fair hearing or an understanding reception.
On another point. though, which one meant to make at the beginning of this offering, it’s not as if the medication in question would in any have had performance enhancing effect from the point of view of the player/athlete.
The loss of the experienced performer will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on the ambitions of his employers of making the NBA post season – in other words the play offs – for non basketball aficionados, that can mean an extra 20-plus games and a whole other bucket load of mover.
More significant than any of that, though, is the worrying message banning George in the prevailing circumstances would send.
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