Sean Hill was suspended just hours before the Islanders potential last game of the season, a 20 game stretch for violation of the leagues drug policy. Apparently this is the first suspension for performance enhancing drugs in league history (don't say Brian Berard...he wasn't).

Nice going Sean, way to be there for your team at their ultimate moment of need.

GG Islanders.

what were the drugs, exactly?

Bob McKenzie

4/20/2007 7:35:40 PM

The New York Islanders went into Game 5 of their first round series without defenceman Sean Hill, who was handed a 20-game suspension by the NHL on Friday for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances program.

Here's what we know to be factual at this point.

Hill was tested at some point - likely in the final weeks of the regular season - as part of the joint program between the league and NHL Players' Association, but we do not have the precise date as to when that happened.

No one knows what he tested positive for at this point, but it's been suggested that it is not some sort of substance that's found naturally in the body, that there was an elevated level of a natural hormone in his body and that this was something foreign to the human body.

We also know that the NHL Players' Association - on hehalf of Hill - appealed to the performance-enhancing substance committee which consists of Bill Daly, Ian Penny and two doctors who administer the program.

That appeal was made and it was taken to an arbitrator - Professor James Oldham of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Oldham announced Friday that the appeal had been rejected, and a news release was put out as part of the procedure.

There's another factor to consider when it comes to testing for performance enhancing drugs in the NHL. There have been about 2,800 tests taken this season and last season, and this is the first positive test.

Montreal Canadiens' netminder Jose Theodore and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Bryan Berard both had positive tests, but those were administered by the International Ice Hockey Federation and not by the NHL.

So the Islanders made the playoffs with an illegal drug induced player...The Leafs in essence should be awarded a playoff spot and the Sabres/Islanders series should be washed out...

The leafs get screwed again.

Some people just can't follow the rules.

[insert obligatory salary cap joke here]
















I kid, I kid...that running joke still has legs.

The NHL's drug policy is a joke.... the only way you can be caught is if you're a complete moron (MainEvent)...

You're subject to (I believe) 3 random tests per year. Which you're given advance notice of. And once you've had your three tests-which with many teams is done by christmas- you know you will not be tested again...

It's a joke, and I think they're changing it.

And serge... sorry to say, but there are and have been players in the blue and white dressing room operating outside the policy rules too.....

it was in the hockey news (marty broduer on the cover) that they are almost certainly changing it now. guys wont know how many times a season they'll get tested as 10 teams will have players that get tested once a year, 10 teams will be tested twice and the final 10 thrice. the tests could be any time from the preseason til the finals, and players wont be given prior warning of tests.

get a life gruven
you really sound professional hahah, like i said you call me a moron because youre insecure lol gg
Oh ya, im also a winning player on all sites, that must piss you off to
pc

Looks like I have been dethroned as the site idiot....I had a good run.

I hate admitting this, but that made me laugh out loud

I agree.

This new guy is more annoying. I'm already starting a ban movement.

Jason, you're still -13, but that right there was a helluva plus one.... I laughed out loud too....

I think the most hilarious part about this guy is the amount of unsolicited information he gives us with each rant. Not only is he rich and young, but he wins at poker, too! What's the over/under on how big he'll say his penis is in his next post?

Also, re: topic. The testing policies in other sports are equally as laughable. If they don't care, why should hockey?