San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith received a nine-game ban without pay from the NFL for substance abuse and personal conduct violations.
Smith has 42 sacks since making his NFL debut in 2011, the second-most of any player in the league over that span, but has multiple incidents involving police as well.
Last season, Smith missed five games during a voluntary leave of absence to seek help for substance abuse issues.
But in July, Smith was sentenced to 11 days in jail and three years on probation on weapons and drink driving charges for a 2013 violation, his second as an NFL player after a 2012 arrest.
That followed an April incident in which he was arrested for allegedly making a fake bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport, but no charges were filed against him.
Smith, who met earlier this month with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, will not be able to play for the 49ers until they face the New York Giants in November.
He cannot be activated until November 10, the day after the 49ers play New Orleans.
Among the games Smith will miss are the September 7 season opener at Dallas, an October 19 game at Denver and October 13 and November 2 games against St Louis.
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