Sweden’s Center Out

It’s not often we hear about this happening in the world of hockey, but this is a shock to those who follow the sport.

Sweden’s star center Nicklas Backstrom was kept out of the final Gold Medal game after testing positive for a banned substance.

An NHLPA source told Yahoo Sports that Backstrom violated anti-doping rules after using an allergy medication which is something like Claritin, contain pseudoephedrine, which is a banned substance by the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Federation.

Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman Bjorn Folin told the AP that Backstrom tested positive for a substance found in an allergy medication that he has taken for seven years.

The source said he was pulled from the locker room before Sweden’s pregame skate, after being announced in the starting lineup.

It was reported before the game that Backstrom, who plays for the Washington Capitals, would miss the gold medal match with a migraine, after he didn’t appear in the warmup.

Backstrom is Sweden’s top line center, with four assists in five games and was a big part in the teams success.

Thanks to Yahoo Sport for the info.