The World Anti-Doping Agency does not approve of Nicklas Backstrom’s silver medal
During the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Swedish skater Nicklas Backstrom was forced to miss the final game of the competition due to a failed drug test.
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The forward had tested positive for pseudoephedrine, a banned substance.
Of course, it came out later that the substance is found in certain allergy medications- and with the ruling by both the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation that Backstrom had not been taking the drug in order to enhance his own performance, he was finally awarded his silver medal.
Just months after finally getting his medal, though, Backstrom is back in the headlines for the scandal- as the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision to award the medal.
It seems that the only people who are on WADA’s side, of course, are WADA. The Olympic Committee has already cleared Backstrom’s name in their eyes, and the NHL’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly, expressed his displeasure with WADA’s decision.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly: "WADA is an organization that has clearly overgrown its original mandate and purpose. Its a travesty."
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 12, 2014
Should the ruling fall in WADA’s favor, Backstrom will be forced to give back the silver medal, which he received half a year after the rest of his teammates.
The WADA has failed to comment on the situation beyond announcing its decision to appeal the exoneration, and have stated that they will withhold comment until a decision has been made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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