Leafs' Ashton suspended 20 games for violating PED policy

[Smite 399]

TSN article - http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-ashton-suspended-20-games-for-violating-ped-policy-1.127003

[frankgrimes 1,836]

This league is so ridiculous it's not even funny:

slam someone through the glass...$ 2.500 fine when you are making 14.000.000 a year

spear someone...$ 5.000 fine for a 6 mill per player

slam an opponents face on the ice...14 games

using performance enhancing help...20 games

summary: f*** you NHL the whole front office needs to get cross checked by Steve Macintyre so they'll go back to their greedy, non integrity life.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Not to mention its a typical steroid inhaler.

If he's telling the truth that is.

Twenty games for first time offence seems too high, especially since that substance is just used to cut weight, not get stronger.

And that's if its not just for bronchial problems.

Edited November 6, 2014 by jimmyemeryhunter

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

He has 3 points in 50 NHL games. I think he must have been using these drugs wrong.

Edit: Okay so i definitely didn't read the article. I thought it was real PEDs and now my joke doesn't work. Damn!

If it's Asthma meds I think it's no big deal and the suspension is fine. My brother has Asthma and I know his prescription lasts for many years. If I asked his what's in the inhaler I'm sure I'd get a puzzled look back. This guy is fairly new to league and trying to gain a spot and the last he's probably been thinking about is checking the label of an inhaler he hadn't used in years.

Edited November 6, 2014 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Not to mention its a typical steroid inhaler.

If he's telling the truth that is.

Twenty games for first time offence seems too high, especially since that substance is just used to cut weight, not get stronger.

And that's if its not just for bronchial problems.

It's an old story. You'd be surprised how many pro-athletes in cycling are or were officially asthmatic. I don't believe a word he says, I've heard similar bulls*** from other athletes way too often.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

It's an old story. You'd be surprised how many pro-athletes in cycling are or were officially asthmatic. I don't believe a word he says, I've heard similar bulls*** from other athletes way too often.

I mean, I've heard it too.

But a fringe NHL player?

I know there's a lot of people who fake it, but this isn't cycling bro, and with all the people in the league there's gotta be some who are actually asthmatic.

But it does throw up a red flag that he's not appealing it.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I mean, I've heard it too.

But a fringe NHL player?

I know there's a lot of people who fake it, but this isn't cycling bro, and with all the people in the league there's gotta be some who are actually asthmatic.

But it does throw up a red flag that he's not appealing it.

As someone who has had asthma at a younger age, I can tell you first hand it's not fun and if the right meds are helping someone to get rid off of it you take it. This league just needs to get their priorities straight the guy has 3 goals ! in 50 games...

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

As someone who has had asthma at a younger age, I can tell you first hand it's not fun and if the right meds are helping someone to get rid off of it you take it. This league just needs to get their priorities straight the guy has 3 goals ! in 50 games...

I'm appalled he got 20 games.

Like what if he genuinely has asthma and is just taking the punishment as not to cause his team anymore trouble because he shouldn't be there to begin with.

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

There's really no excuse for it. Whether he has asthma or not is irrelevant. Talk to your team doctor if your current medication isn't working.

They have full education seminars on banned substances and everything they can be in.

Feel bad for the guy but it's just bad decision making.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

There's really no excuse for it. Whether he has asthma or not is irrelevant. Talk to your team doctor if your current medication isn't working.

They have full education seminars on banned substances and everything they can be in.

Feel bad for the guy but it's just bad decision making.

This is the same bulls*** as with the Backstrom situation. If Ashton has asthma not allowing him to take such meds could lead to him suffering more from asthma. This league is a joke as evidenced by another thread

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

This is the same bulls*** as with the Backstrom situation. If Ashton has asthma not allowing him to take such meds could lead to him suffering more from asthma. This league is a joke as evidenced by another thread

Actually it's pretty black and white. Don't take medication from random people. That's what Doctors are for.

[Echolalia 2,961]

What is particularly telling is that he isn't going to appeal this suspension. That doesn't exactly scream to me that he just took a couple puffs off a buddy's inhaler for an asthma attack here or there.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This is the same bulls*** as with the Backstrom situation. If Ashton has asthma not allowing him to take such meds could lead to him suffering more from asthma. This league is a joke as evidenced by another thread

Most likely he was taking cienbuterol for its performance enhancing properties and this is his cover story (I guess the contaminated food supplement excuse had been used too many times), but if he legitimately has asthma then he should've consulted with the NHL and his doctor to make sure he didn't ingest something on the banned substance list.

I'm guessing somewhere along the way players have the NHL substance abuse policy explained to them. Even when you're at the low end of the player salary scale, that's a ton of cash to put at risk from accidentally taking the wrong inhaler.

Since he said he got the inhaler from another player I'm wondering if he'll end up taking someone down with him, unless that player has an exemption.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Yet Matt Cooke is still playing in this league.

[thegerkin 189]

This league is so ridiculous it's not even funny:

summary: f*** you NHL the whole front office needs to get cross checked by Steve Macintyre so they'll go back to their greedy, non integrity life.

Always love when Big Mac gets a shout out

[nawein 324]

This league is so ridiculous it's not even funny:

slam someone through the glass...$ 2.500 fine when you are making 14.000.000 a year

spear someone...$ 5.000 fine for a 6 mill per player

slam an opponents face on the ice...14 games

using performance enhancing help...20 games

summary: f*** you NHL the whole front office needs to get cross checked by Steve Macintyre so they'll go back to their greedy, non integrity life.

He cheated. Cheating isn't tolerated. Nobody wants this to turn into the MLB.

[kliq 3,755]

You have to suspend these guys when they violate these policies. Does the act itself necessarily deserve 20 games.....maybe not, BUT what this does is slowly change a culture. When you take anything performance enhancing, it is not fair to those who don’t.

For example: People who are doing things the right way, may end up being cut from a team rather than getting that last coveted spot on a NHL roster because someone less talented took something to give them that slight edge.

The ONLY way to change a culture of performance enhancing drugs is to have a policy in place, and stick to it when infractions occur. If a guy has a medical issue, he needs to go through the proper channels. In 2014, all players should know this.

Yes of course sometimes certain guys may get a raw deal, but you can’t enforce a policy some of the time or else the policy loses its power and its purpose.

Edited November 7, 2014 by kliq

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

You have to suspend these guys when they violate these policies. Does the act itself necessarily deserve 20 games.....maybe not, BUT what this does is slowly change a culture. When you take anything performance enhancing, it is not fair to those who don’t.

For example: People who are doing things the right way, may end up being cut from a team rather than getting that last coveted spot on a NHL roster because someone less talented took something to give them that slight edge.

The ONLY way to change a culture of performance enhancing drugs is to have a policy in place, and stick to it when infractions occur. If a guy has a medical issue, he needs to go through the proper channels. In 2014, all players should know this.

Yes of course sometimes certain guys may get a raw deal, but you can’t enforce a policy some of the time or else the policy loses its power and its purpose.

Agreed.

They have to make the punishment severe to try and make it just not worth the risk.

It's like with bench clearing brawls. An automatic ten game suspension and fines for the coach and team are extremely effective in eliminating it.

[sleepwalker 512]

I don't understand the people in this thread that are saying its telling that he isn't appealing it.

Whats to appeal? He himself admits that he took it.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I don't understand the people in this thread that are saying its telling that he isn't appealing it.

Whats to appeal? He himself admits that he took it.

Because if he actually needs it then he can get an exception.

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

Because if he actually needs it then he can get an exception.

Ya but then everyone will need it too, before you know it we'll have a league full of guys who are scoring 3 goals every 50 games. Where does it end!!

[Echolalia 2,961]

I don't understand the people in this thread that are saying its telling that he isn't appealing it.

Whats to appeal? He himself admits that he took it.

I think I'm the only person who said this, so I suppose this is directed at me.

I think it's telling because 20 games is a long suspension regardless of what the crime is, and we've seen several players try to repeal their suspensions in the past, even after being established as a guilty party. These repeal attempts have typically been for things more severe than taking a couple hits off an inhaler to treat an alleged asthma. They have also been from people who were obviously wrong in their actions, but also thought the punishment didn't fit the crime. If Ashton sincerely only took a couple puffs specifically for bronchospasms and he can back this up from the diagnosis by his team doctor, I think he would repeal the suspension. 20 games is a long time to sit for an honest mistake. It isn't quite as long a time to sit for someone with a guilty conscious who knows he's busted.

[evilmrt 636]

HAHAHA

Clenbuterol is commonly used for two things in North America:

1."Performance enhancement"

2. Veterinary medicine, typically for horses suffering from respiratory problems.

This is not at all a common inhaler for human use for asthmatics in North America. And it was never prescribed by a doctor to anyone. Uh huh...

[toby91_ca 620]

I've had asthma all of my life, although I very rarely use an inhaler these days....it's the type of thing you normally grow out of later in life. These days, I'll typically use an inhaler once or twice a year, normally triggered by a cold or different environment.

Anyway, I use two types 1) to basically breath better instantly and 2) to strengthen lungs.....the 2nd one does have a steroid in it Budesonide....which I think it pretty common for asthma treatment. As noted above, I don't think Clenbuterol is typically used for asthma treatment in North America.