Evgeny Kuznetsov suspended: Four year international ban for cocaine use
Early Friday morning, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announces that Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has been suspended for failing a drug test. Earlier this offseason, a video was released following Washington’s Stanley Cup victory over the Vegas Golden Knights that depicted Kuznetsov in a room where cocaine was being used. At the time, Kuznetsov denied using the substance.
Per the IIHF press release:
The IIHF has suspended Russian ice hockey player Yevgeni Kuznetsov for a violation of World Anti-Doping Code Article 2.1 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance).
The case concerns a test indicating a prohibited substance, cocaine, according to section S6.a (non-specified substance) of the World Anti-Doping Code 2019 Prohibited List.
The prohibited substance was found in a doping control which occurred on 26 May 2019 at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
The player didn’t require the analysis of his B-sample and was provisionally suspended on 13th June 2019.
The period of ineligibility to be imposed shall be four years, concluding on 12th June 2023.
Given that the NHL doesn’t consider cocaine to be a performance-enhancing drug, an NHL suspension would be unlikely. According to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, Kuznetsov has entered the NHL’s substance-abuse program and is currently receiving counseling.
