Nicklas Bäckström tested positive for doping

[Hatter]

Hockey players know better. In junior we had guys snorting pseudoephedrine before games.

Its the Olympics, Backstrom. Get it together.

[irrevocable]

poppa popppa

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by fleury

You wonder how many others get caught doping during the NHL season, but cover up using the same excuses - migraines, fever, strained groin. When they said migraine for Backstrom on this one, it was a WTF moment that he'd miss a gold medal game, but somebody floated it out there and it would have worked.

I get we say "caught doping" but if this is pseudoephedrine, which everything shows stop far it likely is, this is lack of due diligence and understanding the importance of reading the medication that's it. He wasnt looking for an advantage here

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by dino7c

of course he doesn't get a medal...he got caught rules are rules and its a banned substance for a reason

What reason?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Plain allergy tablets like Claritin don't contain pseudoephedrine...you'd have to purposefully seek a combination tablet that does.

Claritin-D in the US has pseudoephedrine and doesn't require a perscription in most states.

[dissentowner]

The bigger question is why is pseudophedrine a banned substance anyhow? I can't see any performance benefit to taking it.

[sureLoss]

Romanian gymnast was stripped of a gold medal for taking pseudoepherdrine in 2000 to combat cold symptoms:
http://assets.espn.go.com/oly/summer...25/776388.html

The doctor that gave her the pills was banned from the 2002 and 2004 Olympics

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

What reason?

I think there's some performance boost in taking sudafed. Players have been taking them before games in hockey and baseball for years. I know I have had some of my faster runs after taking a sudafed for sinus pain. It seem like it does something to help with aerobic exercise and sure gets your heart beating faster.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Claritin-D in the US has pseudoephedrine and doesn't require a perscription in most states.

Doesn't need a prescription anywhere in the world except a few states

[sureLoss]

Sounds like the Swedes are going to fight it:

Helene St. James @HeleneStJames
Sweden coach Par Marts on Nicklas Backstrom being pulled before gold-medal game: "IOC has made things up here."

[Street Pharmacist]

Why the f can there not be a common sense clause?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Whatever the case, Good on Backstrom for putting the team ahead of him and not trying to hide it and play.

Yes he could have and perhaps should have known, but a unselfish thing to take him self out.

[burnin_vernon]

If it takes two players testing negative to be disqualified, why wouldn't he have just played anyways? He did take the warm up, right?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444510

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Swedish GM says the IOC has "destroyed" one of the greatest hockey days in his country's history by ruling Nicklas Backstrom out.

[thefoss1957]

In the US...pseudoephedrine is treated as a Class V controlled substance in most states...this class is a bit of an oddity, an Over-the-counter controlled substance. Ones is able to buy a limited quantity of pseudoephedrine containing items may be purchased, and then there is a "lockout" time period before one can purchase again for all that live at the address of the purchaser.

Sudafed, the US brand name, is an ingredient that is used to cook methamphetamine, being the main precursor to the active meth.

As a pharmacist, I am resentful of those bozos that abused this medication. In my experience it is the most effective drug for nasal symptoms of colds and sinus issues. It exists in all kinds of cold and nasal allergy products. And logging use and addressees for legitimate users and making reports to the state boards of pharmacy is tedious and time consuming.

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Nicklas Backstrom has been taking one allergy pill a day for several years, per Swedish team doctor. Including during 2010 Games.

Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
Swedish doctor said Backstrom was flagged for something in allergy medication. They're not happy about it.

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
"He is an innocent victim of circumstances." -- IIHF head doctor on Nicklas Backstrom.

Shawn Roarke @sroarke_nhl
substance is only banned if it goes over a level, says iihf doctor

Shawn Roarke @sroarke_nhl
there certainly is no doping in this instance, iihf lead doctor says

Shawn Roarke @sroarke_nhl
swe team doctor says nik has been tested before

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Nicklas Backstrom: "I have absolutely nothing to hide. I've had allergy problems for several years."

Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
Backstrom's allergy medication was Zyrtec D

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Backstrom: "It was shocking to me." Says he's been taking same medication for 7 years

Shawn Roarke @sroarke_nhl
In NHL i was tested twice and by IOC once in january and i was taking xyrtec then n-- backstrom

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Wow. Nicklas Backstrom was tested on Wednesday and only told about the fail two hours before today's game.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Makes you wonder who else is using.

[sureLoss]

Dave Sheinin @DaveSheinin
IIHF medical chief implies Backstrom's silver medal may hinge on result of test of B sample.

Dave Sheinin @DaveSheinin
Pseudoephedrine legal up to 150 mg. According to IIHF medical chief, Backstrom level in A sample came back at 190.

[sureLoss]

Dave Sheinin @DaveSheinin
Swedish GM implies IOC withheld doping result until close to gametime to get maximum coverage from press. "It's political."