Nicklas Bäckström tested positive for doping

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by dino7c

what a dumbass

A dumbass for taking allergy medication when he was probably having an allergic reaction? I guess you never had an allergy reaction then. I am not siding with Swedish team here but I am wondering the same thing on why IOC banned him for the game when he told them it is from allergy pills. Can't they check his pills and read the label. I am all for banishing cheaters in the Olympics or in any other sports but there should be a limit.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by 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.

Interesting.

Zyrtec D only contains 120mg per tablet. I'm not sure if it stays in your system or not, but 190 seems a little bit high.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by OzSome

A dumbass for taking allergy medication when he was probably having an allergic reaction? I guess you never had an allergy reaction then. I am not siding with Swedish team here but I am wondering the same thing on why IOC banned him for the game when he told them it is from allergy pills. Can't they check his pills and read the label. I am all for banishing cheaters in the Olympics or in any other sports but there should be a limit.

The IOC and WADA don't give a rats ass where the banned substance comes from. If you test above an acceptable level, you're bounced. Period.

It sucks for Backstrom, but he and his doctors know the rules, and they know the risks. If the B sample comes back positive, then he will lose his medal.

[Itse]

Even I know that some allergy medication show up as banned substances, and I'm no pro athlete. Heck, I don't even have allergies.

You would have to be a true idiot with a completely incompetent doctor to do that by accident.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by OzSome

A dumbass for taking allergy medication when he was probably having an allergic reaction?

Yes. I've never been close to being an Olympic athlete, and yet I know that pseudoephedrine is banned by the IOC.

Gio even mentioned that when Yzerman called to tell him he wasn't going to be on the team, that he told him that he was still on the alternates list, so he needed to be careful about any medication he might take.

[nfotiu]

An interesting, relevant article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fea.../nhlstory.html

I guess saying you've been taking them for allergies for years plays a little better than saying you like to pop a few before every game to get a little more energy.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

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

No kidding. IOC is stupid, as usual.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The IOC and WADA don't give a rats ass where the banned substance comes from. If you test above an acceptable level, you're bounced. Period.

It sucks for Backstrom, but he and his doctors know the rules, and they know the risks. If the B sample comes back positive, then he will lose his medal.

Considering his testing history, don't you think its a bit stupid to let the player know 2 min before opening faceoff that he isn't allowed to play?

Because doping tests are always accurate and cannot be tainted.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Azure

Considering his testing history, don't you think its a bit stupid to let the player know 2 min before opening faceoff that he isn't allowed to play?

Depends on when they were able to perform the test.

Because doping tests are always accurate and cannot be tainted.

Casting aspersions is nice and all, but does not change the fact that if Backstrom's B sample comes back positive, he's done. Not to mention that 1. he admits to using the medication and 2. He and his doctors surely know that there is a limit. I feel bad for the guy, but I can't view him as a victim if he and his team erred.

[Alberta_Beef]

so the pills are 120mg, the limit is 150mg and he tested 190mg.

I'm no Dr. but could that be caused by taking 1 in the evening, 1 in the morning and being tested after the morning one started to work?

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

so the pills are 120mg, the limit is 150mg and he tested 190mg.



I'm no Dr. but could that be caused by taking 1 in the evening, 1 in the morning and being tested after the morning one started to work?

It's certainly possible. The half life is around 8 hours, so while 190 is still high in that scenario, he could certainly have tested over 150.

[Heavy Jack]

I thought it odd that a player would sit a gold medal game out due to a migraine headache even though those do suck. This is interesting for sure, I feel bad for Backstrom because but I don't think him being in the final was the difference between gold and silver for Sweden. Will be intriguing to see the fall out of this in the coming weeks.

[Fire]

Backstrom and the Swedish hockey federation are looking like fools.

[Wood]

First thing I thought was the time change from Washington to Sochi could have really thrown off his schedule for when he takes his daily pill

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by strombad

It's certainly possible. The half life is around 8 hours, so while 190 is still high in that scenario, he could certainly have tested over 150.

well metabolism slows down while you sleep, so if taken before bed it would probably actually last closer to 10-12 hours I bet.

[Mith]

For those asking "If the pill is 120mg how can he have 190mg in his test"

Drugs do not decay like that, you don't maintain 120mg constant level if you are taking a drug on a day to day basis. It does reach a maintained level eventually, but it isn't the dose of the pill.

It's like this:



So as you can see you will build up a level until you reach the steady state. If he tested for 190mg, it's possible this was how (especially since it's been theorized that he's been taking it long-term).

Edit: Also notice that the time of day the test is completed matters - your steady state is just an average that the dose oscillates about. It can be higher or lower given the time of the day.

[Fredrik]

Apperantly he asked the doctor if he could take one, and got a "yes". But after one pill he went over the legal limit. The doctor says its his fault...

From what I gather, you can take some of it, but too much and your over the limit and considered positive for doping, and it is very individual how much you can take.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportblade...cle18425629.ab

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Mith

So as you can see you will build up a level until you reach the steady state. If he tested for 190mg, it's possible this was how (especially since it's been theorized that he's been taking it long-term).

According to Backstrom he was tested in January by the IOC and passed.

[Mith]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

According to Backstrom he was tested in January by the IOC and passed.

There's variability in the tests, of course, and it's possible he felt like crap and took an extra pill the morning of. I'm just suggesting that him being 'over the dosage of the pill' isn't uncommon, in fact it's the norm.

[Wood]

Backstrom also said he's been taking the same medication for 7 years now, so it's probably safe so assume he was using the medication last Olympics as well without any issues