The Milwaukee Bucks’ title ambitions have suffered a major blow as forward Bobby Portis Jr has been suspended for 25 games without pay due to a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

Reports indicate that Portis tested positive for Tramadol, a prescription opioid used to treat severe pain, which is prohibited under the league’s drug program. However, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, clarified that the situation was an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Speaking to ESPN, Bartelstein said,"Bobby mistakenly took Tramadol, believing it was Toradol, another pain medication. This was an honest mistake due to the similarity in their names and purposes,".

Following the announcement, Portis expressed deep regret and accepted full responsibility for the situation.

"I feel awful and completely acknowledge that I am responsible for what I put in my body. I sincerely apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans. I give my all on the court and will greatly miss competing for my team during this period,"

Milwaukee Bucks performance in ongoing season

The timing of the suspension, coming just before Milwaukee’s matchup against the LA Clippers, poses a significant challenge for the team. Portis will be eligible to return on April 9 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but with only four regular-season games remaining, his absence could impact the Bucks’ playoff positioning.

Now in his fifth season with Milwaukee, the 30-year-old forward has been a key contributor, averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 46 games. The Bucks currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 29-24 record, just one game behind the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers (30-24).