The announcement by Turner Sports came Friday, hours after police said the 45-year-old former NBA star was legally drunk when police arrested him Dec. 31 on suspicion of drunken driving in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Test results show Barkley had a blood-alcohol level at .149, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 in Arizona.

While waiting for results of the blood test, TNT considered suspending Barkley if the results showed his blood-alcohol content was over the legal limit, a source told ESPN.com.

Barkley will be off the air for a minimum of several weeks and no return date has been set, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it.

"I have spoken with Charles Barkley regarding the incident. .. and I understand he has hired a lawyer to represent him regarding this matter," said David Levy, president of TNT Sports, in a statement. "When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understands the significance of the situation. This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being."

A Gilbert officer working a regional DUI task force stopped Barkley shortly after he left a popular nightclub at about 1:30 a.m. He failed field sobriety tests but was cooperative.

Barkley was booked and released at a field command post and later issued a statement saying he was disappointed he put himself in that situation.

Barkley's attorney wasn't immediately available for comment Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This sucks.

Vecesy sonned him something vicious tho in one of his recent columns.

Even doing this once is inexcusable. I hope he learned his lesson from this.

I don't care if a guy wants to get loaded, but get a ride home. Call a limo service. You're Charles Barkely! You don't have to drive yourself everywhere.

Posted by Allanfan20:

Posted by Papabear:

Papabear Says

Back in the day I had a few too many, too many times. I was lucky and I stoped doing that drinking thing when I new the only way home was me driving. Something like this could hurt his career and I don't know what it will do for his chances of running for Govenor. The officer who arrested him did his job. Maybe if Barkley wasn't so stoned the police might have let him go but Barkley was stoned. He should go seek help and then write a book about his drinking and gambling, go on a few talk shows like Larry King and ask for forgiveness and move on. Hopefully he can keep his job.
Thank God no one got hurt.

Barkely doesn't have a chance in hell at being governer. I'd really question the states judgement, if they were to elect him. And I like him.

Yes because that is where some of our smartest and most pious citizens held that honored sacred position. At this point, I would say he would be a perfect fit. Someone that Chris Matthews could enjoy talking to and about.

The bigger story here, this is the end of Inside the NBA as we know it. No point watching now after the game.

He will better eat this life shrimps with Wade and Jao...
I never drive drunk in US but back in Russia I had to do this a couple of times... because I was so drunk that was unable to walk... Driving is much easier that walking

Posted by Solace:

Even doing this once is inexcusable. I hope he learned his lesson from this.

That's jus' turble.