Prince George Cougars forward Spencer Asuchak has to be commended for his honesty.
When he discovered he was taking a supplement that contained a banned substance he stepped forward and turned himself in.
“It was a good step on his part, you have to commend him,” said Western Hockey League vice-president Richard Doerksen. “He was tested in December and following that test he discovered two players in Ontario were suspended for using the same supplement and banned substance (methylhexaneamine) he was taking.”
It was discovered Asuchak was using the 2009 list of banned substances.
“In 2009 it was still legal, but not on the 2010 list,” explained Doerksen. “We remind all the players that a new list comes out on Jan. 1 each year and it will have additional banned substances on it.”
Asuchak’s test also proved positive and he received an automatic eight game suspension.
“It’s mandatory,” said Doerksen. “The second positive test is 25 games and a third is two years.”
Red Deer Rebels head coach/VP of hockey operations Jesse Wallin isn’t sure about the length of the suspension.
“The young man wasn’t intentionally doing anything wrong, but it’s the system in place. If anything we all have to take it as a lesson.”
The anti-doping program was instituted in the full Canadian Hockey League (CHL) during the 2008-09 season and follows in line with the NHL.
“A few years back there was a lot of talk that the other (pro) leagues had drug testing while the NHL didn’t,” said Wallin.
“It was mainly because of steroids and there were accusations that NHL players were on steroids, so the NHL implemented the program. Because our league is a feeder system to the NHL we try to emulate pro hockey as much as possible.”
Players are given as much information as possible to make sure they know what is on the banned list.
“There’s a pamphlet that comes out each year that the kids get that has a list of all banned substances,” explained Wallin. “It’s quite lengthy and very in depth so the players are aware of exactly what they can and can’t use. Our trainers are aware of what is on the list as well.
“If there are any questions and they have something they never had before the players can go to the training staff. In fact it should be checked out.”
The WHL also does their part to make sure the players are well informed.
“We have an online course that the players take and each player must sign two forms,” explained Doerksen.
Testing by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) begins in early October and runs through the Memorial Cup.
The Rebels have been tested several times.
“It’s random, not every game,” explained Wallin. “Usually there’s a handful of games during the season when the CCES comes in and tests a player from each team. It’s a random selection from the players on the roster that game.”
Rebels captain Collin Archer stresses it’s up to the players to make sure they know what they’re putting in their bodies.
“The biggest thing is to know what you can trust,” he said. “We have some brands we use and a good list we stick with. Terence (athletic therapist Terence Robertson) Looks after us that way. He gets good stuff in and we don’t stray, so we’re always covered.
“You just never know what’s in some of the supplements. It could be made out of a plant that has other stuff mixed in and you get caught with your pants around your ankles and you’re in trouble.”
As captain Archer watches the younger players when they come in during the season.
“The younger guys may not be used to all the rules and if I see a guy taking something I let him know he has to check it out. Everything is on the database, so I try to help out that way.”
The fact there’s only been three players in violation of the anti-doping rules, and all three were using the same supplement, may say something about the program.
The fact is Wallin doesn’t feel there’s a big issue with especially steroids.
“I’m not saying there’s no one, but compared to other sports hockey isn’t that bad,” he said. “All the years I’ve played junior and pro to my knowledge no one I played with took steroids.
“But what we’re trying to do is eliminate performance enhancing drugs completely and to protect a players health. At the end of the day it’s good, but also a bit frustrating at how careful you have to be.”
Players even have to watch what a doctor may prescribe.
“Our medical staff have to be aware of what the banned substances are and it’s really important for the players to follow and deal with our doctors and trainers,” said Wallin. “It would be easy to go into a walk-in clinic and have a doctor to unknowingly hand out something that’s on the prohibited list.”
• The Rebels open a three-game home stand tonight at 7 p.m. against the Lethbridge Hurricanes . . . The Rebels are currently on an eight-game winning streak, the fourth longest in team history . . . The Rebels won 14 games in a row in 2001-02 while they had both a 12 and 11 game streak in 2000-01 and 11 games in 1996-97. They also won eight in a row in 2002-03.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com