Geno Auriemma on Diana Taurasi & the Drug Test Result Allegations

I think Geno is expressing pretty much the same feeling that any Taurasi fan would have. You’d like to believe that it is not true, but how do you disprove such an accusation. Based on how she handled the DUI, I’m inclined to believe her when she says she didn’t knowingly take this drug. If she had knowingly taken it, I think she would admit it.

That said, it would be naive not to consider that Diana has some strong personal and financial incentives to challenge these test results. Presumably she stands to lose a very lucrative overseas contract, not only for this year, but perhaps another 2 years. She could be banned from competing in the 2012 Olympics and in other international competition, and perhaps even from the WNBA. She would probably also lose at least some of her endorsement contracts.

It’s anyone’s guess right now in terms of how long the Turkish league will ban her for, as well as the WNBA.

But at the same time, though this incident isn’t the way you want to start it, it may not be a bad idea that she take a break from the game, and she has been hinting at that last year…