Warriors suspend Ellis for 30 games for moped injury

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay for violating terms of his contract after being involved in a moped accident in which he injured an ankle.

Ellis tore a ligament in his left ankle in the August accident and underwent surgery.

"The cooperation that we received from Jeff Fried (Monta's representative) enabled us to be very diligent in collecting all of the facts surrounding the incident," Warriors president Robert Rowell said in a statement Saturday.

"This 30-game suspension is a result of that."

The suspension will take effect immediately and will end after their game on December 17.

"From this point forward, it is the complete focus of everyone involved to provide Monta with all the support he needs to have a successful rehabilitation, and to get him back on the court as an integral part of this team," Rowell said.

Ellis, a fourth-year guard, was expected to be out for 12 weeks following his surgery and rehabilitation period.

He is expected to lose about $3 million in salary during his suspension, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on its website (www.sfgate.com).

Ellis signed a six-year, $66 million contract several weeks before the accident.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)