Thursday, January 15, 2015

Nicklas Backstrom drops appeal in Sochi Olympic doping case

Nicklas Backstrom drops appeal in Sochi Olympic doping case
LONDON (AP) -- Nearly a year later, Swedish hockey star Nicklas Backstrom reached a settlement Thursday in his fight against the positive drug test that kept him out of the Olympic final in Sochi.
The Washington Capitals center dropped his appeal against the International Olympic Committee ruling that he committed a doping violation. In return, he was issued with the minimum sanction of a reprimand and cleared of any intention to cheat.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced the settlement was reached ''after constructive discussions'' between Backstrom's lawyers and the IOC, World Anti-Doping Agency, and International Ice Hockey Federation.
''Mr. Backstrom, WADA, the IOC and the IIHF are pleased that this matter has now been concluded and wish to clarify that at no time was Mr. Backstrom's receipt of his Olympic silver medal at issue in the proceedings,'' CAS said.
Backstrom tested positive for pseudoephedrine after Sweden's win over Slovenia in the Olympic quarterfinals on Feb. 19, 2014. He said the stimulant was contained in a sinus medication he had been taking for allergies.
An IOC disciplinary panel in Sochi ruled that Backstrom committed a doping violation. He was suspended and pulled from the Swedish team just hours before the Feb. 23 gold-medal game, which Sweden lost 3-0 to Canada.

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