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Ekblad after doping test: 20-game ban for Panthers star!
NHL star Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games after failing a drug test. Penalty details and response.
Ekblad after doping test: 20-game ban for Panthers star!
In a dramatic turnaround for the Florida Panthers, NHL defenseman Aaron Ekblad has received a 20-game suspension for a positive drug test. The 29-year-old player, who played a key role in his team's title win, was punished by the NHL and the NHL players' union on Monday for violating their policies on performance-enhancing drugs. “I was shocked by the result of the unannounced doping control,” Ekblad admitted in a statement, taking full responsibility for his mistake, which resulted from a desire to recover more quickly from injuries, but without consulting the team’s medical officials.
Suspension hits the defending champions hard
This suspension comes at a critical time as the Panthers will now be without Ekblad for the remaining games of the regular season. He will also miss the first two games of the playoffs if the team can qualify. Ekblad has 33 points in 56 games this season and has been sidelined several times due to injuries in the past, making his current situation seem even more dire. "I let down my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans. For that I am truly sorry," he continued.
According to information from AP News Ekblad is the first NHL player to be suspended for a doping policy violation since Nate Schmidt in 2018, who also had a distinguished career at the time. Schmidt is now a teammate of Ekblad on the Panthers. The NHL stipulates a 20-game ban for a first positive test; a second results in a 60-game ban and a third test can result in a lifetime ban. Ekblad's suspension also includes a mandatory referral for evaluation and possible treatment under a substance abuse and behavioral health program.
The Florida Panthers, focused on their playoff ambitions, face the challenge of being without their defensive anchor. A comment from the club is still pending as the tests for doping and the consequences are increasingly becoming the focus of the league and the public.