Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell found guilty of doping violations in China

The NBL’s biggest drawcard, Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell, has been found guilty of doping violations by China’s anti-doping watchdog.

The NBL’s biggest drawcard, Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell, has been found guilty of doping violations by China’s anti-doping watchdog while playing in Asia this off-season.

Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) announced Harrell, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year who this month re-signed with the 36ers, was one of two players found guilty of testing positive to a banned substance – reportedly cannabis – during Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) in-competition testing.

American Troy Gillenwater was the other player named for testing positive to tetrahydrocannabinolic acid – a non-psychoactive precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis – according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

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Montrezl Harrell tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The report stated both players have given up their right to having their B samples analysed.

Harrell, who played eight games for Xinjiang Flying Tigers between March 13-31, can request a hearing and CODE Sports has been told he could face a ban of one to three months.

“The CBA firmly opposes any form of doping violations and maintains a zero tolerance stance on anti-doping efforts,” a CBA statement read.

“We are committed to safeguarding the integrity and fairness of basketball and will not tolerate any breaches of anti-doping rules.”

After leaving Xinjiang, Harrell spent time in Puerto Rico and is currently playing for Chicago Triplets in rapper and actor Ice Cube’s Big 3 competition.

It’s not the headline the 36ers or NBL would ever want to see but the issue is a complex one.

CHINADA does operate under the same World Anti-Doping Agency framework as those in Australia and the US and any ban would almost certainly be recognised by Sport Integrity Australia.

Montrezl Harrell has just re-signed with the Adelaide 36ers. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Chinese agency has been in the crosshairs of the likes of USADA in recent years after the infamous drugs scandal involving the China swim team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, when 23 athletes were cleared of positive drugs tests.

There are also cultural differences.

Marijuana use is illegal in China and possession can lead to detention and fines. But it is legal – and commercialised – in many US states. The NBA has removed cannabis from its banned substances list, with superstar Kevin Durant once saying “it’s like wine at this point”.

In 2023, the NBA reached an agreement with the players’ union to officially allow marijuana use. Players are no longer tested for it or penalized for using it. Similar agreements were already in place in pro baseball and hockey.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) removed cannabis from the list of drugs it tests for under a seven-year collective bargaining agreement reached in April 2023.

Kevin Durant: “It’s like wine at this point”. Picture: Julio Cortez/AP Photo

CODE Sports has contacted the 36ers for comment and issued this statement.

“The Adelaide 36ers are aware of reports of an adverse finding against Montrezl Harrell by the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency,” a club spokesperson said.

“The club is in contact with Montrezl and his manager and is seeking further information from relevant agencies.”

Harrell lit up the Australian league with his box office play, averaging 20.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in making the All-NBL Second Team.

His passionate, fiery personality attracted a swarm of new fans to the league.

From run-ins with the referees to the infamous on-court brouhaha and subsequent crowd incident at John Cain Arena that cost him a three-game ban last season, the 31-year-old captivated the NBL.

Harrell is the third NBL player to test positive to a recreational drug this year, after Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks (cocaine) and Perth’s Next Star Izan Almansa (marijuana) both failed tests in 2025 and served one-month bans.

Cairns Taipans player Tahjere McCall also received a one-month ban from Basketball Australia for a positive drug test two years ago.

He tested positive for a metabolite of a prohibited substance (THC) during an in-competition doping test in February 2023.

Originally published as Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell found guilty of doping violations in China