Orlando Magic Rashard Lewis Suspended for failed drug test

Orlando Magic's forward Rashard Lewis will be suspended without pay for the first 10 regular-season games and will lose about $1.6 million salary for the upcoming 2009-2010 season for a failed drug test, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Rashard Lewis had tested positive for an elevated testosterone level. Lewis said in a statement that he took the over-the-counter drug late last season and that included a substance that he didn't know was banned by the NBA.

In a statement Rashard Lewis replied, "First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty". "I apologize to Magic fans, my teammates and this organization for not doing the research that should come with good judgment".

ESPN.com reported that according to league sources, Rashard Lewis tested positive for steroids precursor DHEA, and had asked for a retest, which is allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement.

Lewis didn't think he was taking anything illegal so he talked with the Orlando Magic staff and they helped isolate an over-the-counter supplement he was taking that had DHEA, which is banned by the NBA.

I truly feel that Rashard Lewis is a pretty honest and straight-to-the-point guy, and by the fact that he worked with the team to make sure he wasn't doing anything illegal speaks for his character. I think he will serve his suspension and move on from this.

This has been quite the busy off-season for the Orlando Magic, as they have made a lot of headlines with some of their free-agent pick-ups and trades.

Vince Carter was traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Orlando Magic and was reunited back to his home state of Florida (he is from the Daytona Beach area).  He figures to be a big addition to the team as they lost one of their go-to scorers in Hedo Turkoglu.  

Brandon Bass, power forward from the Dallas Mavericks, signed on as a free agent this summer.  And also in a surprising move the Magic had retained the rights of Marcin Gortat, who had originally signed an offer sheet with the Dallas Mavs in hopes of being a starting center in the NBA, but that dream didn't last long as the Magic matched the offer.

This figures to be another exciting season for the Orlando Magic, and they should fare well despite this minor setback with Rashard Lewis.