Junior hockey player suspended eight games for methylhexanamine violations

Press Release

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that a junior hockey player was suspended for eight games for an anti-doping rule violation. The violation resulted from a urine sample collected during in-competition doping control last April. The sample revealed the presence of methylhexaneamine, a stimulant on the list of banned substances.

According to the rules of the CHL’s Anti-Doping Policy, Steve Lebel, who played for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens last season, received an eight-game suspension for a first violation for use of a prohibited substance. The player’s suspension will take effect at the start of next season.

“Steve Lebel was very cooperative throughout this long process. After hearing the player’s explanations, we are convinced that the player used a supplement without knowledge that it contained a prohibited stimulant,” stated QMJHL Commissioner, Gilles Courteau. “Supplements and sports nutrition products which are available for purchase through the Internet or in specialty stores can contain traces of methylhexaneamine and other banned substances. These types of situations remind us of the importance of continually educating our clubs as to the risks players can face when consuming a banned substance or a contaminated supplement. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to continue working with the CCES to support the health and welfare of all our players.”

Methylhexaneamine is banned in-competition by 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 and sports nutrition product use,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the CCES. “Athletes must exercise extreme caution when considering the use of supplements and sports nutrition products, as they are ultimately responsible for the substances contained in the products they consume.”

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission is to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, carried out through research, promotion, education, detection, and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.

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