Three players given lengthy suspensions by IIHF for doping violations

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has suspended players Michael Budd, Kirill Dyakov, and Vladislav Nikiforov due to doping violations.

Budd, 30, was handed a 24-month suspension after he tested positive following a game of Germany's third-tier Oberliga, back in November of 2017. The IIHF stepped in to suspend him because he was fired by his team, the Hannover Scorpions, after the failed drug test. The drug test revealed that he had cocaine in his system.

Budd admitted that he continued to play and coach in recreational hockey after NADA'S notification, as he assumed he was only banned from playing professional hockey. The IIHF believe that he knew and chose to ignore NADA'S notification, therefore deciding to now suspend him for 24 months.

Dyakov, 26, has played 34 games in the KHL for Admiral Vladivostok this season. He has been given a 15-month suspension after also testing positive for cocaine. He took the drug test back in November of 2019. Dyakov was suspended by the league and hasn't suited up for a game since December 9th as a result. His suspension will be in place until February 2nd, 2021.

Nikiforov, 19, also received a 15-month suspension. He had been playing in the MHL, a junior hockey league in Russia, this season. He tested positive for Meldonium. He claims that he was prescribed a treatment by a doctor over the summer which contained the product, and had no intention of taking any illegal substance.

The IIHF believed his explanation that he took the substance unknowingly. However, they said that Nikiforov should have informed the doctor that he was an ice hockey player, so that the doctor would have known not to give him that particular substance. He will remain suspended until February 8th, 2021.

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