First Player Dismissed for Violating Anti-Drug Policy

The defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks received a jolt yesterday when center Rhonda Mapp became the first player dismissed from the league for violating its anti-drug program.

Mapp, who was in her sixth season, cannot apply for reinstatement for at least two years, according to league rules.

Under the league's collective bargaining agreement, players can be dismissed for testing positive for a controlled substance other than marijuana, as well as pleas of guilty or no contest or a conviction involving a controlled substance.

Sparks Coach Michael Cooper had no immediate comment. The WNBA, which formed in 1996, released a two-paragraph statement announcing the dismissal and had no further comment.

Mapp was not with the team for its 88-65 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night. The victory gave the Sparks at least a share of their fourth consecutive Western Conference title.

Mapp, who is 6 feet 2 and 190 pounds, provided a physical presence under the basket and helped the Sparks win the WNBA championship in 2001. She missed last season, when they repeated as champions, because of unspecified personal reasons.

She averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 24 games this season, including four starts.

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