IIHF clears Valeri Nichushkin on anti-doping charges

Russian ice hockey player and Stanley Cup champion Valeri Nichushkin was cleared by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) of doping allegations on Wednesday. Nichuskin was investigated last year after traces of testosterone were found in a stored blood sample upon retesting.

A statement made by the IIHF said: “The International Ice Hockey Federation will not initiate a disqualification of Valery Nichushkin for an anti-doping rule violation. This became possible after the results of additional studies [were done] by the Swiss Doping Laboratory.IIHF notified Nichushkin that all charges against the player were dropped. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation will be glad to see Valeri in the national team after its return to the international arena.”

Nichushkin represented Russia on the national team in 2017 where the team took home the bronze medal at the World Cup. He also represented Russia at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, but the team did not make it past Finland in the quarterfinals.

He had planned to represent Russia again in 2018, but Nichushkin was among several Russian athletes prevented from taking part at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics due to suspicion of banned substance use. He and several other athletes were told by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) they would not be allowed to compete despite having never received a sanction from the committee in regards to taking banned substances.

In the 2021-2022 NHL season, Nichushkin helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. Prior to playing for the Avalanche, he played for the Dallas Stars. Nichushkin was drafted out of Moscow where he played for CSKA Moscow and Tractor in the Kontinental Hockey League.

Nichushkin had hoped that his hearing on the subject would take place over the summer, but it was delayed until this month. Luckily, he was cleared on all charges and will be able to return to international competition assuming the sanctions on Russian athletes are lifted by the time the hockey World Cup rolls around.