Monday, January 24, 2011

Junior Hockey Player Suspended for Eight Games for Methylhexaneamine Violations

Press Release

(Ottawa, Ontario - January 24, 2011) - The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that a junior hockey player was assessed an eight-game suspension for an anti-doping rule violation. The violation resulted from a urine sample collected during in-competition doping control in December 2010 which revealed the presence of methylhexaneamine, a prohibited stimulant.

Under the rules of the CHL Anti-Doping Policy, Spencer Asuchak, a player with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League, was assessed an eight game suspension for a first violation for using a prohibited substance.

"In reviewing this matter, we are completely satisfied that the player used a supplement which had been purchased over the counter at a retail outlet and had no knowledge that it contained a prohibited stimulant under our national CHL Anti-Doping Policy," stated CHL Vice President and WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. "The Canadian Hockey League is fully committed to the ongoing education for all CHL players, all of whom participate in the CHL Anti-Doping program and we will continue to work with the CCES to support the health and welfare of all of our players."

Methylhexaneamine is banned in-competition under the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List, which is recognized by the CHL. In Canada, methylhexaneamine is not an ingredient in medications licensed by Health Canada but can be found in supplements. "This violation once again underscores the potential dangers of supplement use," said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. "Athletes must exercise extreme caution when considering the use of supplements, as ultimately they are responsible for what substances are in the products they consume."

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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