Heat All-Star Chris Bosh off blood thinners, cleared to join training camp

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh says that he is no longer taking blood thinners for a blood clot in his left lung and will be able to join the team when camp opens next week.

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh says that he is no longer taking blood thinners for a blood clot in his left lung and will be able to join the team when camp opens next week, according to the Associated Press. 

Bosh is still taking treatment, but the blood-thinning drug Xarelto is no longer part of his regimen. Going off the blood thinner allows Bosh to fully participate, as athletes in contact sports typically cannot take blood thinners due to a higher risk of bleeding. 

Bosh missed the final 30 games of last season after the clot was discovered. He was averaging 21.1 points and seven rebounds before being sidelined. 

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He described the harrowing experience to Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins, including the immediate days following the diagnosis.

Bosh already knew his season was over, but he still had to wait for test results that would show whether his condition was hereditary, and therefore likely to recur. “If those tests came back positive,” the 31-year-old Bosh says, “I couldn’t play anymore. For almost a week I didn’t know.” 

Bosh made the statement at an event to announce a new partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Xarelto. The Heat have also become partners with the company.

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