Mitchell appeal to fight one-year ban
BASKETBALL TONY Mitchell made an 11thhour bid to clear his name last night after receiving the largest suspension in the history of Australian basketball.
The American import was banned for the entire 2017-18 NBL season after he was found guilty of striking a referee with the game ball.
Mitchell’s agent Todd Ramasar, through the Australian Basketballers’ Association, sought an extension to lodge an appeal, which was granted by the NBL, and was set to expire at 11.45am yesterday.
Ramasar argued that both
Edmonds said she was working hard this year to maintain her handicap of 22 after slashing 12 shots off it during a bumper 2016.
“I had a really good year last year so this year I’m trying to keep it steady,” she said. the player and his agent were on flights returning home from Australia at the time the decision was handed down.
The Mitchell camp did not meet the already extended deadline but lodged an official request for review and apology for not meeting the set deadline two hours later.
As the request fell outside the rules of the NBL, a ruling is being sought from the chairperson of the full tribunal, Alanna Duffy, on whether the appeal will be considered.
If Duffy is to consider the appeal, Mitchell is required to make a $2000 deposit to the NBL of which $1000 can be refunded.
ABA chief executive Jacob Holmes issued a statement confirming the extension which should allow Mitchell to lodge an appeal.
Despite putting the possible appeal on the agenda, Holmes would not shed any more light on the matter yesterday but said this in a statement: “The ABA respects the right of all referees to be free from physiSTEADY cal and verbal abuse, and the actions of Tony Mitchell are not condoned,” Holmes said.
“However, we believe the penalty imposed is disproportionate to the action, which would result in the potential for Tony to be ruled out of any basketball game for an entire season, including the potential for this penalty to be applied in leagues outside of Australia.”
Meanwhile, as flagged last week, Taipans import Travis Trice signed in the D-League over the weekend.
Trice played with the Westchester Knicks in the DLeague before playing in Australia and will bolster Westchester’s back-court.