The chief drug tester at the Winter Olympics has a simple warning for NHL players competing in the Games: Stay off Sudafed.
The commonly used, over-the-counter cold remedy contains an ingredient that's on the International Olympic Committee's list of banned substances, and Dr. Makoto Ueki believes some hockey players will run into trouble because of it."Sudafed is not an accepted substance," said Ueki, director of the IOC drug testing laboratory. "It is prohibited, even for colds. It cannot be used."
Sports Illustrated reported last week that 20 percent of NHL players routinely use Sudafed to increase their energy. The medication contains pseu-do-eph-ed-rine, which in large enough amounts acts as a stimulant. It is banned by the IOC but not by the NHL.
"I think the Sudafed issue will be a problem for this tournament," Ueki said. "This is not new. It has been banned previously."
NHL officials, aware of the problem, conducted pre-Olympic testing on the 125 players who will be participating in the Games and reported no use of the substance beyond the recommended dosage for treatment of colds and flu.
The NHL says its routine drug tests have not turned up any use of the substance beyond the recommended dosage for treatment of colds and flu. But even that amount would be enough to disqualify a player in the Olympics.
"I am shocked and dismayed at the irresponsible statement by the IOC chief Olympic drug tester," said Dr. Dave Lewis, the joint director of the NHL-NHL Players Association substance abuse and behavioral health program.
"We have developed a program of education and testing for our players, working closely with the IOC medical director, Dr. Patrick Schamasch, based on extensive testing, using the best laboratories, following Olympic standards," said Lewis, who works at Anacapa Hospital in Port Hueneme, Calif. "I have no concerns about NHL athletes participating in the Games in Nagano."
Even a small amount of pseudoephedrine would be enough to disqualify a player in the Olympics.
"We've gotten all the warnings of the approved and non-approved stuff," said Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings and the Canadian Olympic team. "We can't take any cold medication. It's tough because you always get a cold in the wintertime. It's hard to go to sleep when you're all stuffed up and then you're tired the next day."