Former NHL all-star Teemu Selanne has released a blog post on his website, offering his take on doping in hockey.
After talking about being a part of a Finnish sports reality show and also a member of Team Finland’s executive staff for the World Cup, Selanne pivots to talking about doping.
Another big topic in the news has been the doping control of NHLers. In the NHL, a player gets tested 4-6 times a season, albeit by the league itself. Now the NHL has blocked Wada from testing players during the World Cup training camps which leads to unnecessary speculation.
Rigorous testing is the only way to keep sport clean, regardless of the league the players play. Wada should have the right to test any athlete at any given time.
Recent doping news have been depressing, when the athletes testing positive are big names and have used the same drug, which was banned a couple of months ago. Every failed doping test has to be taken seriously and it should be remembered that it’s the athlete him or herself who’s responsible for everything they eat, drink or inject into their bodies. Blaming others or claiming ignorance doesn’t help.
The battle against doping is long and hard. You have to wonder whether using illegal drugs is a threat or an opportunity for the athlete. I think the only way that would make athletes think long and hard about using banned substances is an automatic life-time ban for serious doping offences. I’m sure that would at least make a person stop and think whether it’s a chance worth taking.
The post comes two days after Arizona Coyotes defenceman Jarred Tinordi was suspended 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Earlier in the season, Shawn Horcoff of the Anaheim Ducks was also suspended 20 games for violating the program.
You can read the full post from Selanne here.
