TUR/USA – Taurasi officially out at Fenerbahce

ISTANBUL (TKBL/EuroLeague Women) – Diana Taurasi has parted ways with Fenerbahce following an announcement by the Turkish Basketball Federation about the American star’s positive doping test.

Taurasi, who has been an outstanding player at Fenerbahce this season and fresh off her world title win with the United States at the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic, tested positive for a banned substance after a domestic league game on November 13.

The federation announced on their website on Thursday afternoon: "13 November 2010, after the game Fenerbahce against Istanbul University, there was a routine doping control. Diana Taurasi had in her urine, Modafinil, which is a forbidden substance by WADA .

“And then she asked for the second test which was analyzed by Hacettepe University Doping Contol Center and the report results were sent to Turkey Basketball Federation.

“In the report, it says that the forbidden substances which were found in the test A were also found in test B."

Fenerbahce announced on their website on Thursday afternoon that Taurasi’s contract had been terminated.

Fener remain one of the best teams on the continent, even without Taurasi – the MVP of the last two EuroLeague Women Final Fours when she played with Spartak Moscow Region.

The club, even before the announcement on the doping test, had signed Taurasi’s USA teammate Angel McCoughtry.

The MVPs of the last two FIBA World Championships for Women, Penny Taylor of Australia and Hana Horakova of the Czech Republic, were already on the books of Fenerbahce.

FIBA