NHL bans Carter Ashton 20 games for drug policy violation
It looks like Carter Ashton won't face the Rangers in Toronto on Saturday.
Ashton, 23, a Maple Leafs forward, was suspended 20 games without pay by the NHL on Thursday afternoon for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
A contrite Ashton released a statement shortly after the league's announcement explaining that he had accidentally ingested the prohibited substance Clenbuterol while twice using an inhaler he had borrowed from another athlete during training in August.
'At no time was I seeking to gain an athletic advantage or to knowingly violate the terms of the program,' said Ashton, a first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009. 'Unfortunately, I incorrectly assumed that there were no problems associated with the use of this inhaler and I used it without checking to see whether its contents were permissible under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
'I now recognize that I ingested Clenbuterol, a prohibited substance, through the inhaler,' he added.
For his negligence, Ashton will forfeit $169,185.00 of his salary, and under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment.
Ashton added that he since has been diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma and provided a different inhaler.
Here is the full text of Ashton's statement released through the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA):
'I suffered an asthmatic spasm in late August while in a training session getting prepared for the 2014-15 NHL season. One of the other athletes I was training with gave me an inhaler in order to help open my airway, which provided me with immediate relief from my asthma attack. I kept this inhaler and used it a second time early in the training camp upon experiencing another asthma episode. Unfortunately, I incorrectly assumed that there were no problems associated with the use of this inhaler and I used it without checking to see whether its contents were permissible under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
I now recognize that I ingested Clenbuterol, a prohibited substance, through the inhaler. However, at no time was I seeking to gain an athletic advantage or to knowingly violate the terms of the program. I used the inhaler in response to exercise-induced asthma, a condition that my doctor with the Toronto Maple Leafs has since diagnosed and he has prescribed me with an inhaler.
As a professional hockey player, I recognize that I am responsible for what I put into my body, and I will not appeal my suspension. While I am extremely disappointed that I have let my teammates, our fans and the Maple Leafs organization down, I will work very hard during my suspension to stay in game shape so that I can help out the team when I am able to return.'
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