Bans Tied to Sudafed Expected

Despite widespread warnings, the chief Olympic drug tester said Wednesday he expects some hockey players to be banned from the Winter Games for using Sudafed, an over-the-counter cold medication.

“Sudafed is not an accepted substance,” said Dr. Makoto Ueki, director of the International Olympic Committee drug testing laboratory in Nagano, Japan. “It is prohibited, even for colds. It cannot be used.”

Ueki said he expects the medication to show up in testing of some NHL players in the Olympics.

Sports Illustrated reported last week that 20% of NHL players routinely use the medication to increase their energy. Sudafed contains pseudoephedrine, which in large enough amounts acts as a stimulant. It is banned by the IOC but not by the NHL.

Previously, only a few NHL players have played in the Olympics, mostly fringe players who were not involved in that season’s league competition. This is the first year the NHL is taking a break so its stars can compete on their national Olympic teams.

The NHL says its routine drug tests have not turned up any use of the substance beyond the recommended dosage for treatment of colds and flu. But even that amount would be enough to disqualify a player in the Olympics.

The Nagano laboratory created for these games will conduct 550 tests during the Olympics, running samples for every medalist and for one other athlete in each event. For hockey, two players from each team will be tested after each game. Results will be available within 24 hours.