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Kentucky's Camara suspended for DUI
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky junior forward Jules Camara has been suspended from the team following his arrest on DUI charges, the school announced Sunday. According to Lexington police, Camara was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence. The arresting officer in the case observed a car speeding and nearly hitting a parked car. As he pulled the car over, he saw Camara jump into the back seat, a police report said. According to the report, Camara failed all field sobriety tests and was arrested. He was released about 5 a.m. Sunday. "Pursuant to our alcohol policy, Jules will be suspended from the team pending the outcome of this case," Kentucky Athletics Director Larry Ivy said in a statement. Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith was out of town with the U.S. Olympic basketball team and could not be reached for comment. According to the statement, the school will not comment further on the case until the legal process has concluded. The 6-foot-11 Camara, who was expected to start for the Wildcats next season, started 11 times and played in 31 of the team's 33 games last season, averaging 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Camara's arrest is the latest in a series of alcohol-related incidents by members of the Wildcat basketball team. Sophomore forward Desmond Allison was suspended on March 12 -- NCAA Tournament selection Sunday -- following his arrest on DUI charges. He pleaded guilty to the charges in June after signing to play at tiny Martin Methodist College, an NAIA school in Tennessee. Another basketball player, sophomore guard J.P. Blevins, was suspended for a game and referred to alcohol counseling after a public intoxication charge in December 1998. Smith also revoked the scholarship offer of signee Michael Southall following a May arrest on misdemeanor drug charges. Southall pleaded guilty to marijuana possession charges in June and received a six-month stayed jail sentence. He also pleaded guilty to felony marijuana delivery but, under a deferred prosecution agreement, that count will not appear on his record if he fulfills the terms of a two-year probation. According to the Athletics Association's Student-Athlete Alcohol Policy, a player is suspended temporarily following any alcohol-related incident. If the athlete is convicted of the charges, however, he or she will be suspended indefinitely and forfeit his or her scholarship. Former Athletics Director C.M. Newton unveiled the strict alcohol policy nine days after a Nov. 15, 1998, crash that killed UK football player Artie Steinmetz and Eastern Kentucky University student Christopher Brock. Former Kentucky center Jason Watts, the driver of the truck,
pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless homicide but was released
on shock probation after serving four months of a 10-year sentence.
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