Shaquille O’Neal Recalls Surprising False Positive Cocaine Test At 1996 Olympics After Eating Something Totally Unexpected

Shaquille O’Neal recalled an unexpected story about a false positive cocaine test
Shaquille O’Neal (Photo by David Butler II/Imagn Images)

In a recent episode of Inside the NBA, the TNT crew engaged in a lively discussion about Milwaukee Bucks power forward Bobby Portis’s suspension. Shaquille O’Neal took the opportunity to delve deeper into the situation, sharing a personal story from his own career.

On Thursday, the NBA revealed that Bobby Portis faces a significant setback, receiving a 25-game suspension without pay due to a positive test for Tramadol, marking a breach of the league’s anti-drug policy. O’Neal voiced his frustration regarding the suspension, recounting a moment from the 1996 Olympics when he experienced a shocking false positive for cocaine, stemming from an unanticipated source.

“Olympics, ’96 Atlanta. They told us not to eat before we take the drug test. You remember Chuck, they got us standing in line for 3-4 hours? I see them poppy seed muffins, I [ate them]. Horace Balmer come into the room, he said, ‘Man, I’m disappointed.’ I had tested positive for cocaine,” O’Neal said.

Portis presented a legitimate prescription for the pain reliever Toradol; however, an unfortunate mix-up occurred when his assistant mistakenly administered Tramadol. Mark Bartelstein, Portis’ agent, underscored that his client never aimed to ingest the banned substance.

Jason Richardson Recalls Shaquille O’Neal’s Wild Prank

Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed an illustrious 19-season career in the NBA and is celebrated as one of the greatest basketball players in history. Beyond his standout performances on the court, he is infamous for his playful and intense antics. Jason Richardson recently recounted a humorous incident involving a prank that DJ Diesel executed during their time with the Phoenix Suns.

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“He pulls a mouthpiece out of his ass and puts it in Lou’s locker. Then he grabs Lou’s toothbrush and stirs it in his [expletive]. Amundson unknowingly used the mouthpiece in a game. The whole bench lost it. Lou didn’t know what happened until later when we told him Shaq put it in his a*s,” Richardson said in a recent episode of Entirely NBA.

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Richardson described Shaq as a notorious prankster, known for his mischievous antics. However, he emphasized that Shaq’s pranks often crossed the line, creating a more intense atmosphere. He added that if Shaq had played that cruel trick on him, they undoubtedly would have ended up in a confrontation.