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Race for NHL's Stanley Cup Sidesteps All Drug Testing

The National Hockey League (NHL) prohibits substance abuse testing during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The lack of testing could open a window for the possible use of illegal performance enhancing drugs by players. The NHL also does not allow players to be tested during the off season. Taking into consideration that the drug-testing policies of Major League Baseball (MLB), The National Football League (NFL) and the Olympics use year round random testing - The NHL policy could be viewed as extremely weak.

The reasoning behind the NHL's collectively bargained agreement to prohibit testing in the playoffs and off-season is that random drug testing is seen as a potential distraction by the players and their union. An exception to the rule includes players who are competing in international play during the off-season; they are subject to random drug testing. The NHL's Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, said "The league would be supportive of enhancing the scope of the policy."

A recent article in the The Columbus Dispatch on NHL substance abuse testing includes several interviews with NHL stars and the opinions seem to be split on the issue of testing. Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby believes that the playoffs are full of distractions and "urinating in a cup would add to the list." Crosby stated "If anything, I think it would be a headache for a player after a playoff game maybe having to wait around seeing if they could go to the bathroom."

NHL veteran, Chris Chelios of the Detroit Redwings seems to favor year-round urine testing and would take it a step further to include blood tests as well. Chelios stated "It's obvious this is a problem, maybe not necessarily in hockey, but in other sports, and we should have zero tolerance for it," Chelios exclaimed, "If you are caught, you should be banned forever."

Are performance enhancing drugs adding to the excitement and drama of the playoffs? You be the judge.
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