Caledonia Gladiators, a Scottish basketball team, signed and then swiftly terminated the contract of Malik Dunbar, a player linked to a murder investigation in the United States.
The club announced they were unaware that Dunbar, 28, had been named a suspect in the fatal shooting of Arthur Braxton, 32, in Augusta, Georgia, before signing him last month. Braxton was found dead on October 4 outside El Presidente, a Mexican restaurant, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Dunbar and teammate Jared Wilson-Frame, who also joined the club in the same period, were both dismissed due to what the Gladiators described as a “serious breach of club discipline.” However, the club clarified that this disciplinary issue was unrelated to the ongoing investigation in the US.
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In a statement, the East Kilbride-based team explained:
“Following this breach, we have since been made aware of serious allegations circulating about Malik Dunbar related to events in the US prior to his arrival at the club.
“We rely on reputable sports agencies to vet players during the recruitment process, and no allegations were disclosed during our due diligence.”
The club has launched an internal review of its signing procedures.
Local media in Augusta reported that Dunbar is a suspect in Braxton’s murder. Additionally, US reports reveal Dunbar was arrested in August and charged by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for possession of a firearm or knife and marijuana with intent to distribute.
Sports agency Interperformances, which represented Dunbar, claimed they were unaware of the allegations before media coverage brought them to light.
Dunbar, who plays as a small forward and shooting guard, had a promising basketball career. He gained recognition as part of Auburn University’s 2019 “Final Four” team in the NCAA basketball tournament. After college, he played in Germany, Egypt, and the NBA G League before joining the Gladiators.
The Caledonia Gladiators compete in Super League Basketball, the UK’s top basketball league, and are based in East Kilbride, just south of Glasgow.
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