Nov 28, 2005
Dick Pound Says 1/3 of NHL is Doping
Dick Pound is on a rampage again, but not about cycling. He is hitting out at the NHL where he caims that 1/3 of the entire NHL is doping. This remark was made after Pund met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who made is clear to Pound that player taking performance enhancing drugs was not an issue in the NHL.
Calgary Flames Defenseman Andrew Ference says what basically the entire cycling world has said about Pounds blanket observations:
“You’d think somebody in that position, if they’re going to make such a strong statement, that they’d have examples or inside information or tests or whatnot,”
The NHL doesn’t have a doping problem because there is no testing. The provisions of a doping policy state:
NHL players are subject to a minimum of two drug tests a year without warning. A first-time offender would receive a 20-game suspension, a repeat offender would be suspended for 60 games and a permanent ban would follow a third offence.
This type of punishment is a joke when compared to the instant 2 year ban from all cycling competition and the additional 2 year ban from racing in the ProTour. If Roberto Heras dealt with NHL type rules, he would be back without missing the spring classics. But that is why Cycling gets a bad rap on doping while leagues such as Major League Baseball and the NHL get by as “clean”.
NHL players reject Pound’s suggestion one-third use performance enhancers – Yahoo! News
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I have to agree with Mr. Pound on this. NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL doping procedures are a shame! It is amazing that something has not been changed, or maybe it’s not. Either way, until those federations decide to confront the problem and do something about it – they should be considered a “sport”.
Mags
http://roadrace1.blogspot.com/
It is a shame what the Major Leagure US Sports are doing. They have strong players unions that really make it tough to get stringent rules on doping into place. I do think that the penalties in cycling are very harsh in comparision. The end result is that cycling gets perceived as being “full of dopers” because of the constant crackdown on doping in cycling. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball and the NHL, NFL, NBA etc could have a deeper more elaborate system of performance enhancing drug use, but get to skate by because they are protected by their ever powerful players union.
Yes, I agree. I’m sure the use of PEDs is far more wide-spread in the MLB, NHL and NBA. No doubt in my mind. In one way, I’m glad when riders test positive for PEDs, because it means the system is working. US sports are basically operating under the “out of sight, out of mind” principal. We need an even more stringent system for testing and stricter penalties in cycling.
Mags
http://roadrace1.blogspot.com/