Former Wildcat Marcus Williams suspended from Chinese Basketball Association

Marcus Williams, the former Arizona Wildcat forward, was suspended six months by the Chinese Basketball Association after testing positive for marijuana.

Williams failed the test on December 9, the first failed drug test in the 17-year history of the CBA. The suspension will cause Williams to miss the rest of the CBA season which runs through the middle of February. The punishment is much harsher than Williams would have faced in the NBA. NBA players are not suspended until their third failed drug test and even then the suspension is for only five games.

The failed test ends Williams second season playing in China. He has also spent time in the NBA D-League and the NBA. He was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 after leaving Arizona following his sophomore season. Williams, who was playing for the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons, was among the leading scorers in the league.

In addition to the suspension he was also fined 10,000 yuan or roughly $1,500.