Bill Daly : The NHL does not have a substance abuse issue
Posted 9:27 PM ET | Comments 0
For awhile, I believed this view that the NHL was a clean sport, and almost everyone played in good faith. But with the recent Mitchell report, and the realization that almost every substance abuse testing program that isn't from the IOC or WADA is pretty much a farce, I'm beginning to change my view.
To make a statement like Daly did, on behalf of an organization that employs approximately 660 players who are expected to reach and maintain peak physical condition, creates a situation where intake of performance enhancing substances are almost a necessity for this to occur. He'll make quotes like players have been tested when they go to the Olympics, and the NHL has periodic testing throughout the season, which is pretty much turning your back on a potential problem.
Sure no NHL player has tested positive at the Olympics, but they also have months to cleanse their system before they are even tested, of which I'm sure the NHL lends a helping hand. Also, the current NHL substance testing program is almost laughable. The omit testing for many of the substances on the WADA list, most notably stimulants from over the counter products. In addition, urine tests are almost becoming a thing of the past. There are more effective substances being produced in chemistry labs that work as well, or better, than steroids, most notably HGH and its derivatives, which can only be found by blood testing. As far as I know, not one sporting agency in the world tests for HGH, but that shouldn't let the NHL off the hook.
Daly and the NHL should take yesterday's events far more seriously than they are right now. The Mitchell report showed that substance abuse in baseball is far greater than anyone expected, and the same could be said for any of the other major sports. Athletes will always be a step ahead of the testing that is being administered to them. It is the responsibility of the governing bodies to be pro-active and diligent about the cause or egg is going to be flying in everyone's face in the end.
To make a statement like Daly did, on behalf of an organization that employs approximately 660 players who are expected to reach and maintain peak physical condition, creates a situation where intake of performance enhancing substances are almost a necessity for this to occur. He'll make quotes like players have been tested when they go to the Olympics, and the NHL has periodic testing throughout the season, which is pretty much turning your back on a potential problem.
Sure no NHL player has tested positive at the Olympics, but they also have months to cleanse their system before they are even tested, of which I'm sure the NHL lends a helping hand. Also, the current NHL substance testing program is almost laughable. The omit testing for many of the substances on the WADA list, most notably stimulants from over the counter products. In addition, urine tests are almost becoming a thing of the past. There are more effective substances being produced in chemistry labs that work as well, or better, than steroids, most notably HGH and its derivatives, which can only be found by blood testing. As far as I know, not one sporting agency in the world tests for HGH, but that shouldn't let the NHL off the hook.
Daly and the NHL should take yesterday's events far more seriously than they are right now. The Mitchell report showed that substance abuse in baseball is far greater than anyone expected, and the same could be said for any of the other major sports. Athletes will always be a step ahead of the testing that is being administered to them. It is the responsibility of the governing bodies to be pro-active and diligent about the cause or egg is going to be flying in everyone's face in the end.