Canadian junior hockey to introduce drug testing

The Canadian Hockey League, responsible for grooming many NHL players, will begin drug testing junior hockey players in January 2007.

The CHL and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport announced an agreement to develop and adopt an anti-doping policy during a news conference Wednesday in Toronto.

"We have a responsibility to our players and the Canadian public," said David Branch, CHL president and commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League. "The CHL strongly believes that the health and safety of our players is vital to maintaining a strong and vibrant league that is doping free."

Players in the Western and Ontario hockey leagues will be subject to drug testing later this season after they are educated about the policy. For the past two years, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has had a drug-testing policy and served as a test case for the CHL.

"The QMJHL policy has clearly demonstrated the positive effect an anti-doping program can have on our sport." Branch said. "This is a model that we believe we should be embracing, a model that focuses on education and provides our players with the tools to make the right decisions."

The new CHL anti-doping policy will replace the current QMJHL policy.

"We're putting together educational materials for the players in anticipation of starting testing in January 2007," said WHL commissioner Ron Robison.

"Parents and billets of CHL players will be provided with extensive resource information and materials. No testing will occur until all athletes have gone through the education program."

In July 2005, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association unveiled a new program as part oftheir collective bargaining agreement dealing with players' use of performance-enhancing substances.

Since January, players have had to undergo a minimum of two drug tests a year without warning for prohibited substances such as anabolic steroids and growth hormones.

A first-time offender would receive a 20-game suspension. A 60-game suspension would be handed to a repeat offender, with a lifetime ban for a third offence.

In June 2006, the Canadian Press reported no positive drug tests among the 1,406 administered under the NHL's new anti-doping program.