NHLer Valeri Nichushkin facing lengthy ban from international play for positive doping test

Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado Avalanche has found himself in some hot water in his home country of Russia. According to Championat.com, a sample taken from Nichushkin in 2013 was recently tested and was positive for high levels of testosterone.

Championat states the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) has made the Russian Anti-Doping Agency aware of the positive test and Nichushkin is facing a ban of up to four years on international play.

It is not known why the sample is just being tested. Nichushkin represented Team Russia at the World Junior CHampionship in 2013 where the team won bronze. According to reports, the sample just tested was taken in preparation for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, in which Nichushkin took part. It is worth noting that the NHL does not take into account any suspensions imposed by the International Ice Hockey Federation. What that means is Nichushkin's NHL career is unlikely to be impacted regardless of the outcome here.

Nichushkin is a former 10th overall pick of the Dallas Stars in 2013. He spent the two previous seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, but has only played one game with the team this season after being placed on IR with an upper-body injury.

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