“I accept this punishment”: hockey player Kuznetsov disqualified by IIHF for four years for cocaine use

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced the disqualification of Russian striker Yevgeny Kuznetsov. The Washington Capitals player is suspended from competition under the auspices of the organization for four years. The reason was a positive doping test, passed during the 2019 World Cup.

Kuznetsov’s test, taken May 26, on the day of the match for third place, showed the athlete’s presence of cocaine, which is on the list of banned substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). On June 13, the hockey player was previously suspended, and now his disqualification will be counted from this date. He will be able to play again at the World Cup or the Olympic Games only after the summer of 2023. Kuznetsov immediately refused to open the sample “B” and pleaded guilty.

“The IIHF notified me of a disqualification in international competitions because my doping test turned out to be positive. I decided to accept this punishment. I have always been proud to represent my country, it’s close to my heart, ”said the athlete.

“It’s hard to accept that I won’t be able to wear a national team sweater for the next four years. I have disappointed many people important to me, including family, teammates, and friends. From the first day I went to the ice in Washington, the Capitals and the fans of the team were wonderful to me and my family. I feel terrible for letting them down. I understand that the only way to regain confidence is to take responsibility for this situation and our actions, ”the Russian added.

According to the “Championship”, Kuznetsov was deprived of the bronze medal of the World Cup - 2019.

Kuznetsov’s career in the National Hockey League may also suffer. Formally, the NHL is not bound by any obligations with the IIHF or WADA and is not obligated to extend the sanctions they impose on its players. A collective agreement has been concluded between the players and the league, which is valid until 2023. It defines a list of prohibited drugs for the use of which hockey players can be punished.

For the first violation of the anti-doping rules, the NHL will disqualify a player for 20 matches, deprive him of his salary for the time of suspension and forcibly send him to a program to combat substance abuse and behavior disorder. At the same time, such sanctions are introduced only on the basis of tests that took place with the consent of the NHL, and not WADA.

Cocaine is one of the prohibited substances, but is not considered by the league as a drug that improves physical abilities. Therefore, for its use does not threaten disqualification for NHL matches. However, the offending hockey player will have to undergo rehabilitation. This was announced by league vice president Bill Daily.

The functionary added that Kuznetsov will meet with the head of the NHL Gary Bettman to discuss the current situation and further actions of the hockey player in anticipation of the opening of training camps and the start of a new season in the NHL.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly statement regarding @Capitals' forward Evgeny Kuznetsov: pic.twitter.com/1KvqktURKG

Chapter IIHF Rene Fasel confirmed that Kuznetsov’s punishment will not apply to NHL matches. He added that the athlete may also appeal against the decision of the federation.

“Kuznetsov may still appeal the decision. You need to ask him about the player’s actions, but I don’t know if that makes sense. He refused to open the sample “B” - this is his decision. The NHL and IIHF do not have a single anti-doping code or regulation. Therefore, I do not know whether Kuznetsov will be punished there. But the NHL has strong social programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and more. The NHL also takes this issue seriously, ”said Fasel TASS.

Washington Capitals made an official press release in which the club clarified its position on Kuznetsov.

“As we understand it, Mr. Kuznetsov volunteered for help as part of the education and counseling program provided for in the collective agreement of the NHL and the NHL Players Association, and agreed to conduct a regular testing procedure in connection with his participation in this program,” the statement said. .

The club was assured that they would provide the striker all the necessary assistance so that he could cope with the situation, and also promised to stay in touch with representatives of the league until an official verdict was issued.

“Due to the delicate nature of the issue, we will refrain from further comments,” added the Capitals.

For agent Kuznetsov Valery Gushchin, the news of the disqualification was a shock. He stated that he did not know about the use of cocaine by his client.

“Honestly, I am not aware of what happened. Kuznetsov was disqualified for four years? Wow. Wow ... I didn’t know about cocaine. I have great doubts in this regard. I don’t believe that he could do it, ”an agent told RBC.

A sample for doping was taken from Kuznetsov the day before the scandalous video with his participation on the Internet. An unknown user posted a 20-second video on Twitter, which shows a hockey player sitting at a table with sprinkled white powder similar to cocaine, a rolled up dollar bill and an empty glass bottle. Behind Kuznetsov, who at that moment was looking at his phone and talking in Russian with someone off screen, there was a sleeping girl.

pic.twitter.com/xq6o1E5Jaq

The IIHF did not claim that this video was in any way related to the current doping scandal. Then, after the World Cup, Kuznetsov said that he had nothing to do with what was happening, and the video was shot a year before being published in Las Vegas, where Washington won the Stanley Cup in the final series against Vegas Golden Knights.

“Yes, I saw that this video appeared on the network. I do not always relate to what is happening next to me. I have never used drugs and am not going to get involved in it. If I have questions, I am ready to undergo a medical examination at any time. This video is one year old. It was the summer of 2018 in Vegas when we won the Stanley Cup. This has nothing to do with the past World Cup. I just went to my friends room. When I saw what was happening there - unfamiliar women, incomprehensible substances on the table - I called a friend and left there as quickly as possible. It is a pity that someone decided to catch a hype just now - at the defeat of the national team. I have nothing to hide, let it remain on the conscience of the one who posted this video, ”Kuznetsov told Sport Express.

However, the NHL became interested in a weird video. Three months ago, the Daily stated that all information related to this case would be collected and reviewed.

“The league needs more facts before taking any measures and taking the next steps. I am not going to use the word “investigation” because I consider it rather ambiguous. We must understand what happened, understand the facts and circumstances. I would not call this a formal investigation, but we want to understand what is happening. He seems to admit that he was in that room, but I do not know what it was. He claims that he did not use anything. On this basis, I’m not going to blame him for anything, ”the Daily Post quoted the Daily.

However, three days later, the functionary stated that the NHL had closed the case. After the league’s conversation with Kuznetsov, his words were recognized as not questionable, although some of his actions captured in the video did not find approval. Nevertheless, a few weeks after the publication of the video, Kuznetsov deleted all the photos from his Instagram profile and unsubscribed from almost all the people whose publications he followed without commenting on the motives of his actions.