Jarred Tinordi has been suspended for 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, the league announced Wednesday morning.
According to the Coyotes, neither team was aware of a positive drug test when Tinordi was sent to Arizona along with Stefan Fournier for all-star forward John Scott and defenceman Victor Bartley on Jan. 15.
The Coyotes defenceman’s suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment, as mandated by the collective bargaining agreement.
“I am extremely disappointed that I failed a test under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program,” Tinordi said, via NHLPA release. “I did not knowingly take a banned substance.
“I understand, however, that I am responsible for what enters my body as a professional athlete and I accept the suspension. I will work hard towards my return to the ice and will learn from this frustrating setback.”
Tinordi, who will forfeit $207,439.02, is the second NHLer to be banned for taking a PED this season. Anaheim Ducks centre Shawn Horcoff was suspended 20 games on Jan. 26 for the same infraction.
“Late yesterday afternoon, we were made aware of the situation regarding Jarred Tinordi,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. “The Arizona Coyotes organization fully supports the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We will also continue to support Jarred throughout this process. We will have no further comment at this time.”
The NHL also announced it will have no further comment on the matter.
Tinordi, a 24-year-old native of Burnsville, Minn., was selected in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens but struggled to crack the Habs’ lineup.
The six-foot-six blueliner was traded mid-season to Arizona as part of the memorable John Scott deal.
“I made a trade that, at the time, I had to make that trade. I have a reason that I can’t really tell you why, but if I could, you would probably understand,” said Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin back in January, when asked why he traded for Scott, a player he has no intention of recalling to the Canadiens.
In 10 combined games with Montreal and Arizona this season, Tinordi has no points and 17 penalty minutes.
“He’s a big, young, strong kid who plays hard,” Maloney said when he traded for Tinordi. “It’s been a difficult year [for him], but we’ll try and make it work here.”
