Perth Wildcats NBA draft bound forward Izan Almansa received one-month ban for testing positive to banned substance

One of the hottest NBA draft prospects tested positive for a banned substance during his time in Australia, it has been revealed. See what it means for his draft hopes here.

Perth Wildcats’ NBA draft bound Spanish forward Izan Almansa received a one-month suspension after testing positive to a banned substance.

Sport Integrity Australia confirmed Basketball Australia imposed a one-month period of ineligibility on Almansa for the presence of a prohibited drug.

The NBL Next Star – who averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds on 51.1 per cent shooting in 33 games last season – returned an adverse analytical finding from an in-competition doping control test on December 1, 2024.

Almansa’s sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory and the presence of 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (metabolite of Tetrahydrocannabinol THC) was detected.

The substance THC is listed under Class S8 (Cannabinoids) of the World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard – Prohibited List 2024.

Izan Almansa of the Wildcats looks on during the round six NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings at RAC Arena. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

THC is prohibited in-competition only and is a specified substance.

THC is also classified as a ‘Substance of Abuse’ under the 2024 Prohibited List.

Almansa received a reduced ban of one-month after proving the drug was taken out of competition, while he also completed a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by SIA.

Basketball Australia imposed the month-long sanction on the Wildcats forward between April 7 and May 6 this year.

Almansa was ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy between this period.

He was also not permitted to compete in a non-signatory professional league, or event organised by a non-signatory international or national level event organisation.

Almansa is now free to enter next week’s NBA draft and is a projected second-round pick.

NBL Next Stars Alex Toohey of the Kings, Malique Lewis of the Phoenix, Rocco Zikarsky of the Bullets, Karim Lopez of the Breakers and Izan Almansa of the Wildcats pose during a media opportunity at Royal Pines Resort. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for NBL.

Last month, the former Wildcat came in at No.58 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Yahoo’s mock NBA draft and No.69 in ESPN’s predictions.

It remains to be seen whether NBA teams look negatively at Almansa’s positive drug test.

The Spanish forward will join fellow NBL Next Stars in Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets) and Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) in next Thursday’s NBA draft.

Originally published as Perth Wildcats NBA draft bound forward Izan Almansa received one-month ban for testing positive to banned substance