Basketball: Laettner hit by drugs ban

Rio Ferdinand, who will probably miss the rest of the football season thanks to his missed drugs test, will probably wish he played basketball instead when he learns of the treatment meted out to Christian Laettner.

The Washington Wizards forward has been suspended for five games for violating the National Basketball Association's drug policy. A player has to fail three drugs tests before drawing a five-game suspension.

Neither the league nor the team would comment on when the violation occurred or what substance was involved.

Laettner will have one of the shortest five-game suspensions possible. Wizards have five games in seven days, ending on Monday against Chicago. He can return for the 23 January game against Boston.