NBA: O.J. Mayo faults “energy drink” for banned substance that led to 10-game suspension

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The plot thickens with former USC star and current Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, who’s saying an ‘energy drink’ he bought at a gas station contained the banned substance that led to his 10-game NBA suspension.

This is according to his first public comments made Saturday, two days after the NBA levied the suspension following Mayo’s positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone the body naturally produces that is a banned substance in the NBA.

Mayo said he didn’t know the drink ‘had any bad substances in it’ and that it wasn’t as if he ‘ordered some supplement off the Internet.’ DHEA is commonly sold over the counter as a dietary supplement.

Mayo has previously said he will not appeal the suspension, which will cost him about $400,000.

-- Baxter Holmes

The Associated Press contributed to this report.