Nicklas Backstrom is finally going to be awarded what he deserves. A report from CSN Washington indicates that Backstrom will receive his silver medal from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi on August 28th prior to a Swedish Hockey League game.
You may recall that Backstrom was banned from Sweden’s gold medal game against Canada after failing a drug test. The ruling was an extremely controversial one as he tested positive for a banned substance which is normally found in Zyrtec, a common medication for allergies. It was a harsh decision as Backstrom reportedly only took the medication because it was advised by his team’s doctor. As a result, Backstrom appealed the decision.
It may be little consolation, but the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission has ruled that Backstrom deserves his silver medal.
Via CSN Washington:
The IOC DC took into account in particular that the athlete had been cooperative, had disclosed the medication in question in the doping control form and had relied on the specific advice of his team doctor that the intake of the medication would not give rise to an adverse analytical finding. There was also no indication of any intent of the athlete to improve his performance by taking a prohibited substance. Based upon these mitigating circumstances, the IOC DC considered that the athlete should be entitled to receive the silver medal and diploma awarded for men’s ice hockey.
Backstrom should be content to clear his name and finally receive the medal he helped his team get in the position to win, but he’s always going to wonder what may have transpired had he been able to compete in the tournament’s final game.
