Taurasi tests positive for banned substance

WNBA standout and former UConn star Diana Taurasi tested positive for a mild stimulant while playing in a pro league in Turkey, her lawyer told The Associated Press last night.

Howard Jacobs said Taurasi's "A" sample came back positive from a Turkish lab last week and she was provisionally suspended by the league she's playing in. She already has missed three games with her team, Fenerbahce.

Jacobs said the substance "was not a steroid or recreational drug" and that Taurasi has asked that her "B" sample be tested.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Jacobs said. "I'd rather not say what it is at this stage; they've only tested the 'A' sample. Somehow it leaked over in Turkey. We're waiting for the 'B' sample to be tested. We've had some difficulty with getting a date so far, mostly because of the holidays. We're hoping to get it as soon as we can."

Taurasi led the WNBA in scoring for a league-record fourth straight year in 2010, getting 22.6 points per game. The five-time All-Star signed a multiyear contract extension with Phoenix in August. - AP