[News] NHL suspends Leafs forward Carter Ashton 20 games for PEDs

[Ulrith]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont have asthma or use an inhaler so pardon me if my response sounds obtuse but....are you freaking kidding me??

He took a prescription inhaler from some dude at the gym and just kept it and continued to use it? Despite having an available doctor kicking around at his beck and call?

1. I think its illegal to use other people's prescription drugs.

2. If it worked you take it to your doctor and get one for yourself instead of using Jimmy the Gym Buddy's hand-me-down inhaler.

I'm sorry, this just sounds patently absurd.

Agreed 100%.

Also, why would his "gym buddy" just give the inhaler to him after? Presumably he would need it for his own asthma.

And according to Wikipedia, it's not an approved ingredient in anything approved by the FDA. It's also a well-known PED that has been banned virtually everywhere.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Sounds like an innocent, and very unfortunate, mistake.

Except that so many drug cheats have said the exact same thing, so it is impossible to take such a statement at face value. And that is probably why Ashton isn't appealing, even if he is the unusual athlete who really did ingest something accidentally.

[GioforPM]

I would expect it's against team policy to take any medication not approved by team doctors.

[Philly06Cup]

In comparison to other sports NHL looks like they are ahead of the curve, with this suspension and its previous case of domestic abuse.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Alberto Contador used the stuff to help him win the Tour de France. He was caught and stripped of his victory. If the cyclists are using it it must be for the aerobic benefits. Which I could see translating to hockey. Maybe if you had a cold or weren't in as good of shape as you'd like, this would probably help. He's a cheater, and didn't think he'd get caught. It'll be interesting to see if more players get caught for similar PEDs

[Coach]

I've known the Ashton family all my life, and even though I haven't seen Carter in 5+ years at least, it would really surprise me if this was anything but the mistake described, especially with who his parents are.

I do recall him using a puffer when he was younger.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Clenbuterol is a serious performance enhancing drug. Any athlete knows that it works and that its banned. He's never been diagnosed with asthma, and received the drugs from a "friend". Probably the tip of the iceberg of PED cheating in the NHL.

Didn't even realize Clenbuterol was in asthma medicine....seriously dangerous for high intensity, heart rate sports.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I've known the Ashton family all my life, and even though I haven't seen Carter in 5+ years at least, it would really surprise me if this was anything but the mistake described, especially with who his parents are.

I do recall him using a puffer when he was younger.

With all due respect, was he really dumb as a kid? Because if it was a mistake, it was really stupid.

[Travis Munroe]

Reminds me of the E60 or 30 for 30 on Ben Johnson.
Basically says that under no circumstances do you ever admit to it and you find a excuse as to what it could have been.
In junior leagues you can come off the ice and before you reach the dressing room, your are taking a piss test. Doesnt seem like one would have to be stupid to be caught.
Olympic athletes talk about how they take things and know the exact time frame it takes to leave their system. This wouldnt work for a NHL athlete.

Had to laugh when Chael Sonnen (UFC fighter) was caught. Basically just came out and said he thought he figured out a way to get by the test and it obviously didnt work and that the drug testers equipment must have been better than his. Not something you hear everyday lol.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I've known the Ashton family all my life, and even though I haven't seen Carter in 5+ years at least, it would really surprise me if this was anything but the mistake described, especially with who his parents are.

I do recall him using a puffer when he was younger.

His parents could be the best in the entire world - doesnt change a young kid's temptation when someone tells him he will be able to skate much harder before feeling tired which will lead to better play and could be the difference between millions of dollars a year.
Im sure he is a good kid and had a poor lapse of judgement.

[sureLoss]

James Mirtle @mirtle
I'm told now that Ashton will not count on the Leafs cap. Rare instance where that's the case. Voynov is counting on Kings cap.

[Coach]

Well I said it would surprise me, not that it was false.

Just trying to give a little extra insight. An no, I wouldn't say he was any more or less dumb than any other teenage boy.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by MattyC

An no, I wouldn't say he was any more or less dumb than any other teenage boy.

So really dumb then

[landshark]

It didn't take me long to realize as a kid that with my asthma meds, I could run fast for much longer than without. I always took them on PE test days. I'm perfectly fine with this punishment, but ONLY assuming that the guy has a history of asthma - if he DOESN'T... then throw the book at him. And his 'friend' that gave him the stuff...

[GioforPM]

I wonder if he used it in his pre-season physical and if so, did the trainers/doctors know? Did he report it on his forms?

His story falls apart if he hid the usage.

[calumniate]

Perhaps it was just second-hand mist, from hanging out at the gym too much

[Jacks]

20 games for taking a PED
5 games for cheap headshots that can end careers

NHL has their suspension policies backwards IMO

[zyzz]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Clenbuterol is a serious performance enhancing drug. Any athlete knows that it works and that its banned. He's never been diagnosed with asthma, and received the drugs from a "friend". Probably the tip of the iceberg of PED cheating in the NHL.

Clen is hardly an enhancing drug. It's used for cutting weight and that's it, Using this stuff while doing cardo or any sort of sport would be asking for a heart attack. Learn some facts before you type.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jacks

20 games for taking a PED
5 games for cheap headshots that can end careers

NHL has their suspension policies backwards IMO

Blame US Congress for that one. After they lambasted MLB on PEDs for years, the NHL and NBA had to make damn sure they did something to avoid falling into the same crosshairs.

[Righteous1]

Clen?