NHL drug testing will most likely expand to include tests for cocaine by the end of the 2015-16 season, according to a report from TSN’s Renaud Lavoie.
NHL will reportedly test players for cocaine by the end of 2015-16 season
The NHL and NHLPA are working to curb a disturbing trend in their league.
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Lavoie indicated that nothing was finalized yet between the NHL and NHL Player’s Association, but that suspensions will not be the immediate punishment for a positive test for cocaine. Instead, players would be offered help by entering stage one of the NHLPA’s substance abuse program.
Only suspension is if a player needs to go to Stage 2 of the joint substance program. But like I said, nothing finalize yet.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) November 23, 2015 Cocaine abuse is a trending concern in the NHL. Earlier this summer, New York Rangers forward Jarret Stoll plead guilty to misdemeanors after an arrest for cocaine possession in Las Vegas.
In September, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Viktor Loov told the Swedish press there is "a lot of cocaine" in the NHL.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly admitted drug testing for cocaine needed improvements during an interview with TSN in October.
“The number of [cocaine] positives are more than they were in previous years and they’re going up,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN in an interview. “I wouldn’t say it’s a crisis in any sense. What I’d say is drugs like cocaine are cyclical and you’ve hit a cycle where it’s an ‘in’ drug again.
“I’d be shocked if we’re talking about a couple dozen guys. I don’t want to be naïve here ... but if we’re talking more than 20 guys I’d be shocked. Because we don’t test in a comprehensive way, I can’t say.”
From Lavoie’s reports, it sounds like the NHL and NHLPA are working to fix that problem.
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