KELOWNA, B.C. (CP) - No one wants to be that guy.
No one wants to be the hockey player who tests positive at February's Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, because of a banned substance in a cold medication or a nutritional supplement. "You get caught with something you didn't know was a banned substance, then it's an embarrassment to yourself, to the country and your family," Colorado Avalanche defenceman Rob Blake said Thursday at the Olympic team orientation camp.
"You don't want to be in that position. Guys understand sometimes there are things you take on a daily basis that you never thought was a banned substance.
"The best thing to do is avoid all circumstances."
Blake is among the 12 players at this week's camp who played on the Canadian team that won a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.
Many others have competed at the world championships or other international competitions and have undergone drug testing before.
Still, Hockey Canada isn't taking any chances. Any NHL player testing positive, even because of something simple like a cold medication, would be international news.
"If that happened to a hockey player we know where that would be in the media," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said. "It wouldn't be like a table tennis player."
Even before coming to the camp, all the players were contacted by team medical staff to ensure they understood what medications they could and could not take.
When the players arrived in Vancouver on Monday they had one-on-one meetings with medical officials, Nicholson said.
That was followed by a team meeting involving all the players to make sure they were clear on which substances are safe and which ones are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"We encouraged them if they have questions to come back and talk to the doctors," Nicholson said.
Four players were already subject to unannounced testing at the beginning of this camp while the team was in Vancouver.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can be tested for steroids when the NHL season begins Oct. 5.
Hockey Canada will also keep close tabs on all the players who could play at the Olympics.
"As we gear up for Turin we're in constant contact with the players and also the medical staff that they are playing for," Nicholson said.
"It's certainly something that is on our agenda all the time. We want to make sure the players are educated and we will continue to protect the players to the best of our ability."
That includes more testing.
"Once we announce our list (of players for the Games), they can do unannounced testing," said Nicholson.
Most players are aware of the danger of using performance enhancing drugs. What concerns Nicholson more is the protein drinks and supplements some may take.
