Nicklas Bäckström tested positive for doping

[strombad]

Originally Posted by FAN

Right. My point is at some point in time somebody must have told Backstrom it was a banned substance and given instructions etc. to ensure he doesn't exceed the allowed amounts. I assume this is a case of two pills within too short of a time period instead of say once every 24 hours and Backstrom was careless and unlucky and took another pill before the first left his bloodstream and got caught.

I'm not disagreeing that he screwed up, but you're suggesting that he's not innocent, which in this scenario would suggest he's guilty of doping. He's not.

Read some of the articles and tweets about it. He knew it was banned, his doctors knew it was banned, the IOC knew he was taking it (as I said, he had been tested previously, he was fine), and his doctor reportedly screwed up and ok'd a dosing schedule that then left too much of it in his system.

Innocent? Yeah, he is. Don't know why you would try to even remotely demonize or discredit a guy who accidentally took too much allergy medication.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by strombad

I'm not disagreeing that he screwed up, but you're suggesting that he's not innocent, which in this scenario would suggest he's guilty of doping. He's not.

Read some of the articles and tweets about it. He knew it was banned, his doctors knew it was banned, the IOC knew he was taking it (as I said, he had been tested previously, he was fine), and his doctor reportedly screwed up and ok'd a dosing schedule that then left too much of it in his system.

Innocent? Yeah, he is. Don't know why you would try to even remotely demonize or discredit a guy who accidentally took too much allergy medication.

I actually feel bad for the guy after watching the press interview, but I wouldn't say he's completely innocent. If it's an OTC medication, why would he go to a doctor (I'm just saying). And if he needs to consult with one, aren't there a team of doctors that would meet up and talk about these things before making a recommendation to one of the country's most important athletes? Many other guys in other sports who get nailed say they're using these things to recover from injuries/surgeries, and swear they have doctors to prove it. Legit or not, Sochi had many problems with allergies with reporters and athletes (just google it), but no other athlete who presumably has been affected by allergies got caught. I feel bad for the guy, but man, I can't say for certain one way or the other he's lying. There's probably a team of people they supply to consult with on these things, and more than that doc screwed up somewhere if Backstrom's legit.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by strombad

I'm not disagreeing that he screwed up, but you're suggesting that he's not innocent, which in this scenario would suggest he's guilty of doping. He's not.

Read some of the articles and tweets about it. He knew it was banned, his doctors knew it was banned, the IOC knew he was taking it (as I said, he had been tested previously, he was fine), and his doctor reportedly screwed up and ok'd a dosing schedule that then left too much of it in his system.

Innocent? Yeah, he is. Don't know why you would try to even remotely demonize or discredit a guy who accidentally took too much allergy medication.

Calm down. I think you misunderstood what I wrote and working with a different perception/definition of innocent and guilty of doping. I was actually defending Backstrom suggesting that it could be a case where one pill a day turned into more than that over a 24 period.

Is Backstrom innocent in the sense that he didn't take a banned substance for sole purpose of obtaining a competitive edge? Yes. But if he did fail the drug test, is he guilty of taking a banned substance? Yes.

You can spin it all you want. Taking an allergy pill sounds innocent enough but at the same time Backstrom took an allergy pill at a dosage that is prohibited by the IOC and taking that allergy pill does enhance Backstrom's ability to perform. It's like if Crosby had a cold and could hardly breathe and he took something clear his sinuses so he can play, but it was at a dosage that was higher than allowed. Would Crosby have been innocent? Nobody would crucify him but it doesn't mean he isn't guilty of taking a banned substance as far as the IOC is concerned.

I think people get too caught up in the words "guilty" and "doping". Nobody is crucifying Backstrom here, but at the same time the rules are the rules and it's up to Backstrom to exercise extreme care especially in this situation where he should have known what he's taking is a banned substance and proper dosage is critical.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

It's not

All drugs have negative side effects.

On topic, if you take the same drug daily for 7 years then it would seem logical you'd know a whole lot about it including how it might affect your drug screening during the Olympics. Something doesn't add up about this story.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by zamler

All drugs have negative side effects.

On topic, if you take the same drug daily for 7 years then it would seem logical you'd know a whole lot about it including how it might affect your drug screening during the Olympics. Something doesn't add up about this story.

You wouldn't know what puts you over the limit if you'd never been over the limit before.

He's being supported by the NHL, the NHLPA, the SOC, and the IIHF. All of whom have said he isn't guilty of cheating.

This story adds up just fine, I'm not sure why people think there needs to be a sinister subplot. It doesn't look like anything more than a mistake.

[PeteMoss]

The reason why there is no 'common sense' clause is because athletes would abuse it. Sucks for Backstrom but the rules are there and he was over the level.

If they did withhold the results until right before the game then it sucks for Sweden, but I don't see why the IOC would wait. Its not like having big named athletes getting suspended for drugs is good news for them.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by strombad

You wouldn't know what puts you over the limit if you'd never been over the limit before.

He's being supported by the NHL, the NHLPA, the SOC, and the IIHF. All of whom have said he isn't guilty of cheating.

This story adds up just fine, I'm not sure why people think there needs to be a sinister subplot. It doesn't look like anything more than a mistake.

I don't think anyone is saying he was trying to be evil. There is a limit in place, he tested over the limit so he has deal with the penalty.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

nm. Point already made previously

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

It's not

don't believe you, at all.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by strombad

This story adds up just fine, I'm not sure why people think there needs to be a sinister subplot. It doesn't look like anything more than a mistake.

What kind of mistake?

[Mister Yamoto]

I also posted this in the "Should NHL players go back in 2018" thread and since then the IOC has done an excellent job of proving me right.

Step 1. Bring back the Canada Cup.
Step 2. Tell the IOC to go suck an egg.

Whether we like it or not, the gold that Canada won today has an asterisk beside it because Sweden had their top centerman taken away. And taken away for the most petty of reasons. Why are hockey fans so willing to put up with this crap?

[strombad]

Originally Posted by zamler

What kind of mistake?

Well, if I were to spitball here I'd have to guess a mistake that led to him being 40mg over the limit.

You know, just a hunch.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Sgrath

The problem is not the Pseudoephedrine itself, but its use as a masking agent. http://list.wada-ama.org/list/s5-diu...asking-agents/

Frankly as my colleague at work (former Canadian national sprinter) says, failing a doping test at the Olympics is really just failing an IQ test. Sucks for Backstrom, but given the endemic nature of doping in Olympic sport, they are far tougher than the NHL. Could even be an administrative error on the Swedish team failing to get the paperwork sorted, or as likely there was a tip off by so he was selected "randomly".

This is an excellent article. Pseudoephedrine can be a masking agent for other drugs and an increased level raises alarms. Maybe he did take too many allergy pills without understanding the consequences, but it is up to him to know the limit and consequence.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I also posted this in the "Should NHL players go back in 2018" thread and since then the IOC has done an excellent job of proving me right.

Step 1. Bring back the Canada Cup.
Step 2. Tell the IOC to go suck an egg.

Whether we like it or not, the gold that Canada won today has an asterisk beside it because Sweden had their top centerman taken away. And taken away for the most petty of reasons. Why are hockey fans so willing to put up with this crap?

seriously, first he wouldn't have made a difference, 2nd the rules are pretty clear he should have been more careful or got clarification

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Sgrath

The problem is not the Pseudoephedrine itself, but its use as a masking agent. http://list.wada-ama.org/list/s5-diu...asking-agents/

Frankly as my colleague at work (former Canadian national sprinter) says, failing a doping test at the Olympics is really just failing an IQ test. Sucks for Backstrom, but given the endemic nature of doping in Olympic sport, they are far tougher than the NHL. Could even be an administrative error on the Swedish team failing to get the paperwork sorted, or as likely there was a tip off by so he was selected "randomly".

it's banned because it's a stimulant

http://list.wada-ama.org/list/s6-sti...seudoephedrine

pseudoephedrine*****

....

***** Pseudoephedrine is prohibited when its concentration in urine is greater than 150 micrograms per milliliter.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Whether we like it or not, the gold that Canada won today has an asterisk beside it because Sweden had their top centerman taken away. And taken away for the most petty of reasons. Why are hockey fans so willing to put up with this crap?

I don't see any asterisk beside the gold medal Canada won in Men's Hockey.

[sureLoss]

So yeah another bad mark for the IOC.... Lubomir Visnovsky failed his doping test too in 2010 for the exact same banned substance but was allowed to play:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sport...719/story.html

While in Vancouver with the Slovakian Olympic team, he admitted to taking Advil Cold & Sinus medication to combat flu-like symptoms.

His urine sample provided after the qualification round was found to contain pseudoephedrine, in a concentration greater than the World Anti-Doping Agency limit of 150 micrograms per millilitre.

He also provided samples on Feb. 26 before and after the semifinal against Canada and both were negative.

The IOC issued the reprimand rather than a suspension because of several mitigating factors.

Before taking medication he first consulted Oilers trainer Ken Lowe and Slovakian team Dr. Dalimir Jancovic. After taking it, he explained that he admitted taking Advil Cold & Sinus on his doping control form and that he had not taken it to enhance his performance.

Visnovsky also told the IOC he was unaware that Advil Cold & Sinus contained a prohibited substance.

Perhaps Backstrom didn't fill out his doping control properly like Vishnovsky, but seems pretty inconsistent on how the IOC handled this case.

[loob job]

Most people in the world, let alone professional athletes going to the olympics know that pseudoephedrine is in allergy medicine, it's in all decongestants, read the box, hell, i have a cold and read the box and i'm not going to the olympics. I have no problem with him being suspended for that game. He's an idiot for taking it in the first place, assuming he is telling the truth.

[FlameZilla]

Seems harsh, but the IOC can't be seen to have any malleability on the doping rules. It sounds like it was an innocent mistake.

I don't think Backstrom would have been the difference maker yesterday. It was complete domination from start to finish.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by loob job

Most people in the world, let alone professional athletes going to the olympics know that pseudoephedrine is in allergy medicine, it's in all decongestants, read the box, hell, i have a cold and read the box and i'm not going to the olympics. I have no problem with him being suspended for that game. He's an idiot for taking it in the first place, assuming he is telling the truth.

He's an idiot because he told the IOC he was taking it and they approved it?