Team USA center Corey Millen, who tested positive for a banned drug, was disqualified from the World Hockey Championships Friday, the International Ice Hockey Federation said.
Millen, who played for HC Ambri-Piotta of Switzerland this season, also was suspended for 18 months from world and international competition, the IIHF said in a statement.Also, according to IIHF rules, the scores of the U.S. games against Czechoslovakia (5-4) and Canada (8-2) will be recorded as 5-0 and 8-0 losses, respectively.
The IIHF did not disclose the name of the banned drug taken by Millen.
Meanwhile, defenseman Randy Carlyle of Team Canada also tested positive for a banned drug, the IIHF said. Carlyle, who plays in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets and was once voted the league's top defenseman, was tested after Canada's victory Wednesday over West Germany.
The federation would not identify the banned substance and Canadian team officials said they hadn't been told either. Alan Eagleson, Canada's chief international hockey negotiator, said he had spoken to Carlyle and the player denied using any banned substance.
Carlyle was selected randomly for the test Wednesday. Two urine samples were taken and a test on the second sample was to be tested late Friday.
If it is positive, Canada could stand to lose the two points it earned in Wednesday's game against West Germany. Canada was undefeated in its first four games at the world championship before today's game against Sweden.
If the second sample holds up, Carlyle could be suspended for 18 months from international competition, just like Millen.
Millen, 24, a former University of Minnesota player, was missing from the U.S. lineup for the Americans' 7-4 victory over West Germany Friday.
The IIHF statement said Millen was tested following games against Canada on April 18 and against Czechoslovakia April 19.
At the doping tests, Millen informed the control officials that he had been given local anesthetic for a laceration around the eye.
Walter Bush, president of the Amateur Hockey Association of the U.S., said, "Our officials support the innocence of Corey Millen and have recommended that further tests be carried out to see if the player has a hereditary irregularity in his testosterone makeup through a genetic abnormality."
Millen, who was one of Team USA's top scorers with two goals and one assist in four games, claimed he was innocent and that he had not taken any drugs.