U.S. basketball players indicted for alleged marijuana smoking

SUWON, South Korea, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Thursday that they indicted
three American athletes playing in South Korea's professional basketball league for
allegedly smoking marijuana last month.
The Suwon District Prosecutor's Office said it charged SK Knights' DeAngelo
Collins and Terrence Shannon, and KT&G's Calvin Warner for allegedly smoking
marijuana together on Jan. 17 at a hotel room in downtown Seoul.
Under South Korea's laws, marijuana users can be sentenced to a maximum of five
years in jail or fined up to 50 million won (US$33,300).
Collins, 27, has admitted to smoking but others have denied any wrongdoing.
Investigators, however, were certain that the two others also engaged in illegal
activity based on corroborating testimony by Collins and the fact that a drug
test on a hair sample from Shannon in late January came out positive.
Prosecutors said Warner, 29, wasn't able to take a drug test as his hair was
trimmed short then. His hair was still shaved when summoned again, they said.
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) said earlier this month it will decide whether
to take punitive action after the court makes its ruling.
Shannon, 30, stated earlier this month that he did nothing illegal and plans to
play to the end of the season by hiring a lawyer to prove his innocence. He and
Warner currently play for their respective teams. Collins was discharged from the
SK Knights due to a knee injury.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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