The P.League+ on Thursday banned two of its stars for at least 15 games, saying that they harmed the image of the league with their actions during the off-season.
P.League+ regular-season Most Valuable Player (MVP) Yang Chin-min and Quincy Davis of the New Taipei Kings were banned for 15 and 20 games respectively starting from the season opener today, in which the Kings are to play the Taipei Fubon Braves, it said in a statement.
Davis was also fined NT$350,000, it said.
Photo: CNA
The league suggested that the Kings not pay the two players while the bans are in effect.
The punishments were imposed following the findings of a disciplinary committee, which met earlier in the day.
The statement confirmed that Yang would be free to return to the court after he took time off following a fan’s claim in June that he had an affair with an ex-girlfriend in March.
Photo: CNA
Yang got married in 2014 and has two young children.
He apologized on Instagram in June for the harm caused to his family, the P.League+, his team and the Taiwan Professional Basketball Players’ Association, which he headed.
The post also said that he was stepping down from his role at the association with immediate effect.
“The only thing I can do now is to give up everything, start over and spend more time with the family I hurt... From now on, I have to bid farewell to my fans, I will leave the court and the leadership of the association and focus on my family,” he wrote.
“Sorry, I was wrong. I will miss you, basketball,” he wrote.
The apology sparked speculation that Yang had called an end to his career, although the 39-year-old did not mention “retirement.”
However, Yang has reportedly been participating in Kings’ workouts.
Kings general manager James Mao and player Jeremy Lin have both said that they would like to have Yang back.
Yang was P.League+ regular-season MVP in the past two seasons. He played 28.5 minutes per game in 39 games last season, averaging 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Yang was not fined because the case did not go to court, the P.League+ said.
He was banned because his high profile meant his actions tarnished the league’s image, it said.
The ban means Yang cannot suit up for the Kings until Jan. 21, when they are to host the Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium.
Meanwhile, Davis, who gave up his US citizenship and obtained a Taiwanese ID in 2013, was punished over allegations that he contravened the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.
The big man on July 14 was indicted by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office for physically harming his ex-wife on May 12, when the two had an altercation in front of Qingpu Police Station over childcare issues, prosecutors said.
His ex-wife was holding a child during the incident, they said.
The league’s rules say that anyone formally charged is to be fined and banned for 15 to 25 games, the disciplinary committee said.
The decision regarding Davis was based on how national and foreign professional sports leagues have responded to issues of domestic violence over the past few years, it added.
Davis, 40, averaged 10.3 points and 8.6 boards in 38 regular-season games last season, in which he spent 24.5 minutes per game on court.
The ban means he will miss at least half of the 40-game P.League+ regular season, with his earliest possible return the Kings’ home game against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on Feb. 18.
The Kings in a statement expressed doubt over the league rules, saying that the standards are unclear and the did not give players an opportunity to defend themselves.
Hopefully, the P.League+ secretary-general can shed light on the disciplinary action, the club said, adding that it would seek a way to appeal the decisions.
The league is not known to have a secretary-general.
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