Nicklas Bäckström tested positive for doping

[cowtown75]

^^ Holy Crap ! Graphs and everything.

[Azure]

So what were the results of the B sample? Have they actually come out and said they were negative and that his medal is taken away?

They have had longer than the so called 48 hours it supposedly takes to run the doping test.

Which sounds like a load of horse&^%$ btw.

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by Azure

Because there is nothing suspicious about how he was taking it. Being slightly over the limit in one test certainly doesn't mean he is abusing it.

Just because it is your opinion, does not mean it cannot be viewed as suspicious by others. You don't actually know how he was taking it, other than what is being leaked under the duress of his defense.

I can sort of speak from experience as I was involved in the treatment of an Olympic athlete's medical problem before leaving for Sochi. Part of the treatment revolved around a common drug appropriate to the medical issue, but a drug that also happens to be on the list of prohibited substances. Alot of dialogue ensued between myself and a couple of the Olympic team doctors. As you would expect these doctors were very well informed and aware of this medication right down to the appropriate dosing and clearances, and ultimately the necessity of applying for a therapeutic exemption. All major discussions included the athlete, and it was very clear that there was little room for ambiguity in the decision making and guidance.

This is why I find it hard to believe that Backstrom is blameless given how extremely overly cautious the Olympic environment is, and the mindset of the team docs. If he was taking the allowed dose, this shouldn't be an issue. If his medically required dose puts him anywhere near the limit, their team docs would have advised him not to take it or applied for a therapeutic exemption. It's possible there was no ill intent and that his own stupidity/carelessness lead to popping a few extra pills, but at the end of the day that's still his own fault.

[T@T]

Probably just me and I do agree the IOC sometimes go overboard but maybe Bäckström should have just coughed and sneezed all the way into a gold medal.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by T@T

Probably just me and I do agree the IOC sometimes go overboard but maybe Bäckström should have just coughed and sneezed all the way into a gold medal.

I don't think they go overboard. I think they're horribly misdirected.

They allow athletes to spend 10 months out of the year training on all sorts of PEDs, and then they go after a guy for not reading his Sudafed bottle.

Maybe misdirected isn't the right word....lazy?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

So apparently the B results came out and surprise, it is over the limit also. He is a cheater, debate it any way you want but both samples failed.

I've been looking for confirmation on Sample B and haven't found any. Can you post a link? I'm not expecting it to be different, but still would like to know the result as my expectation isn't fact.

Also a positive test doesn't necessarily mean he cheated. It's entirely possible he took an overdose of the medication. It's OTC, and I know I've lost track of taking medications & vitamins. It could have been an innocent mistake.

Now an innocent mistake still disqualifies him, but cheating requires a mental element.

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I've been looking for confirmation on Sample B and haven't found any. Can you post a link? I'm not expecting it to be different, but still would like to know the result as my expectation isn't fact.

Also a positive test doesn't necessarily mean he cheated. It's entirely possible he took an overdose of the medication. It's OTC, and I know I've lost track of taking medications & vitamins. It could have been an innocent mistake.

Now an innocent mistake still disqualifies him, but cheating requires a mental element.

This exactly.. the only "source" that Backstrom failed the Sample B is Beatle17. Whether or not he should be disqualified is still inconclusive as there is no reputable source (link as Maritime requested) in the thread.

Intention would likely be impossible to prove and irrelevant - agreed that an innocent mistake and cheating both disqualify him, so why does it really matter... other than to call him a cheater without any proof of this intent is dragging his name through the mud.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by blankall

They allow athletes to spend 10 months out of the year training on all sorts of PEDs, and then they go after a guy for not reading his Sudafed bottle.

Most olympic athletes are required to be available for WADA tests pretty much at all times months before any events, meaning for example that they have to tell WADA where they are basicly at all times.

The NHL is an exception, they have essentially prohibited WADA from testing NHL players before the olympics. (Interestingly enough, since due to tight NHL schedules, NHL pros would be much easier to test than most individual athletes that can spend a lot of time training in relative solitude in remote places.)

Naturally this is because hockey is the one sport where PED's are not a problem at all.

[Azure]

Depends what you call PEDs. I'm sure NHL players use certain substances that the IOC might ban. Things like blood doping they probably stay away from though.

As for the B sample, I also haven't been able to find any results for it. I guess it takes more than a week to process a sample, and not just 48 hours like they claimed.

[Beatle17]

About his B Sample. I have been looking for the link that I read (A Swedish article that was translated) but I can't locate it right now so I will happily retract the statement that it failed also.

WADA also only tests the B Sample if the athlete requests it and maybe Backstrom hasn't made that request, which he may do if the IIHF or IOC decide on a further suspension, which I don't think they will as he already missed the game that was really important.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

About his B Sample. I have been looking for the link that I read (A Swedish article that was translated) but I can't locate it right now so I will happily retract the statement that it failed also.

WADA also only tests the B Sample if the athlete requests it and maybe Backstrom hasn't made that request, which he may do if the IIHF or IOC decide on a further suspension, which I don't think they will as he already missed the game that was really important.

Just to back you up... I also read a translated article that indicated he failed both samples. I really don't know how accurate the source was/is though.
I also read a news article stating that his medal is being held until the IOC can rule if it should be awarded and that might hinge on the B sample, so I think it definitely has been or is being tested.

[strombad]

Both the testing and failing of the B sample have been speculation at this point. Neither has been reported by anyone reputable.

[flamesfan1297]

Maritime Q-Scout you really went all out to prove a point.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

Maritime Q-Scout you really went all out to prove a point.

Go big or go home.

To be honest, I love the mental exercise. Underlying the whole issue with Backstrom is the fairness of the IOC and the Olympic philosophy.

How ironic that the IOC tests for PEDs to ensure fairness, yet doesn't fairly test for PEDs.

[combustiblefuel]

So you cabn shoot freezing to numb broken bones like meagan mikklson for the semi finals and finals in woman's hockey but to can not take allergy medicine? Give the dude his medal.

[Hockeyguy15]

A second Latvian player allegedly has tested positive now.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444890

[DOOM]

That sucks for Latvia, they had a great tournament, but now the whole team may get disqualified.

[sureLoss]

IOC gave Backstrom his medal:

The IOC Disciplinary Commission (DC), composed of Anita L. DeFrantz (Chairperson), Nawal El Moutawakel and Claudia Bokel, found that the provisional suspension was fully justified, not only due to the presence in excess of the applicable decision limit of PSE in his urine sample, but also due to the fact that the athlete conceded at the hearing, which took place shortly before the final match, that he had also taken medication containing PSE earlier that day.

The IOC DC took into account in particular that the athlete had been cooperative, had disclosed the medication in question in the doping control form and had relied on the specific advice of his team doctor that the intake of the medication would not give rise to an adverse analytical finding. There was also no indication of any intent of the athlete to improve his performance by taking a prohibited substance. Based upon these mitigating circumstances, the IOC DC considered that the athlete should be entitled to receive the silver medal and diploma awarded for men’s ice hockey.

http://m.olympic.org/mobile/news/ioc...r-medal/227378

[strombad]

Good decision by the IOC