CHARLES Barkley is tak ing a leave of absence from TNT after police said the 45-year-old former NBA star was legally drunk when he was arrested Dec. 31 on suspicion of drunken driving in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Barkley will be off the air for a minimum of several weeks. No return date has been set, a person familiar with the situation said.

Barkley’s attorney wasn’t available for comment.