Harrell’s Australian stint ends amid drug-test dispute as 36ers terminate contract

Montrezl Harrell’s time in Australia has ended amid a doping dispute, with the Adelaide 36ers terminating the American forward’s NBL contract as he serves a provisional ban for a positive drug test. The test, for carboxy THC, a metabolite of cannabis, was recorded while he played in China in April. The announcement from China’s Anti-Doping Agency came on June 25, 2025, confirming the positive finding and triggering the provisional suspension that Houston/LA Lakers veteran now faces. Officials have not yet announced a final sanction, but a penalty of up to two years has been floated in the case, depending on the proceedings and WADA guidelines.

The 36ers said in a statement that Harrell had been tested in April, with the positive result disclosed two months later — after he had already re-signed with the club. Because there is no timetable for the final decision and because confidentiality policies governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency limit what can be disclosed publicly, Adelaide said it had no option but to terminate Harrell’s contract to allow the roster to be finalized. Harrell remains ineligible to train or compete under the provisional ban while the case remains unresolved.

Harrell, 31, has long been a high-profile name for the 36ers, after drawing crowds and generating attention during the previous NBL season. Before joining Adelaide, he played for Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China and competed during the NBL off-season in Puerto Rico. His NBA résumé includes stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers. The controversy has left the club short-handed as they prepare for the opening game of the NBL season, scheduled for Sunday against the Brisbane Bullets.

The 36ers are now expected to search for a replacement import, with two import spots opened by the timing of Harrell’s departure and Bryce Cotton’s recent Australian citizenship, which removes one of the team’s import constraints. Cotton, a three-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats and five-time NBL MVP, joined Adelaide this season and has urged the club to move on from the Harrell situation. “It’s very unfortunate but you can only control what you can control,” Cotton said in a recent interview. “Obviously Trez is going to be missed not only by our club but by the league. We’re all humans; I can only imagine the emotions that have gone through his mind and how he’s handling it. I pray for him and I can only hope that he has a good support group around him.”

Framing the case, Adelaide notes that the China matter remains ongoing, and as such there is limited ability to discuss additional details. The club has emphasized that it will comply with all applicable rules and will work through the process with WADA’s confidentiality requirements in mind, while focusing on maintaining competitiveness for the season ahead. Harrell’s absence leaves the 36ers with roster questions as they aim to defend their status as a favored attraction in Australian basketball, while navigating the complexities of a cross-border doping case that involves multiple jurisdictions and sports bodies.

As the NBL season approaches, the league and club officials will continue to monitor the case while preparing contingencies for player personnel needs. The ultimate outcome of Harrell’s ban will determine whether he can return to the league this season or at a later date, potentially affecting the 36ers’ import strategy and the broader balance of power in the league. The case also underscores ongoing questions about the interoperability of anti-doping rules across international leagues and how clubs respond when high-profile players face sanctions outside their home country.