Stanley Cup champion suspended 20 games for violating NHL’s performance-enhancing drug policy

The Florida Panthers were dealt a dense stroke successful their pursuit of defending their Stanley Cup rubric aft the league announced seasoned defenseman Aaron Ekblad would service a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s argumentation connected performance-enhancing substances. 

Ekblad, 29, volition service his suspension, without pay, as the Panthers participate the last agelong of the regular season. 

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad moves the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2nd play astatine Amerant Bank Arena.  (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

With conscionable 18 games near connected the schedule, Ekblad volition miss astatine slightest the archetypal 2 games of the playoffs. 

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"The quality that I had failed a random cause trial was a shock," Ekblad said successful a connection provided by the league. "Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking thing to assistance maine retrieve from caller injuries without archetypal checking with due aesculapian and squad personnel.

"I person fto my teammates, the Panthers enactment and our large fans down. For that, I americium genuinely sorry. I person accepted work for my mistake and volition beryllium afloat prepared to instrumentality to my squad erstwhile my suspension is over. I person learned a hard acquisition and cannot hold to beryllium backmost with my teammates."

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad skates with the puck against the Nashville Predators during the 2nd play astatine Bridgestone Arena.  (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images)

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Ekblad missed 8 games successful January with an precocious assemblage injury. 

It was unclear what the root of the affirmative trial effect was. 

Under the presumption of the NHL's corporate bargaining agreement, Ekblad was besides issued a mandatory referral for valuation and imaginable treatment. 

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) skates with the puck against Los Angeles Kings halfway Phillip Danault (24) during the archetypal play astatine Amerant Bank Arena.  (Rich Storry/Imagn Images)

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Ekblad is the archetypal subordinate since 2018 to interruption the league’s PED policy. Before his suspension, helium had 33 points successful 56 games. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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