Earlier this month, Gooden failed two league-administered drug tests while under suspension for violating his after-care program.

After a number of skirmishes, Gooden was finally suspended for the 1995 season for having repeatedly violated his substance-abuse program.

Strawberry will be suspended, most likely for the season, for violating baseball's aftercare program for the third time.

Robinson left the Nets short-handed against the Miami Heat in last season's playoffs after he was suspended for violating the league's antidrug program.

But they may part ways because he was suspended hours before Game 3 of the Heat series for violating the N.B.A.'s antidrug program.

Gooden, who initially underwent drug rehabilitation in 1987, is serving his second suspension for violating his aftercare program.

They released him in January 1988 for violating his aftercare program by using alcohol.

Carmen Policy, the Browns' president, said Green was already enrolled in the league's treatment program, and the suspension indicated he had twice violated his personal program.

And by violating his after-care program, he did not show any loyalty to the Mets in the last months of his three-year, $15.75 million contract.

If Howe violated his aftercare program by trying to buy cocaine, the argument would go, the commissioner's office contributed to that violation with its laxness.