Despite a conspicuous doping test, professional ice hockey player Dane Fox is returning to the Dresden Eislöwen squad. The 31-year-old Canadian will be back in action this Friday in Regensburg (20:00) and on Sunday in the derby against Crimmitschau (17:00), as the DEL2 leaders announced.
"We have dealt intensively with the issue and the situation in the last few days. After consultation with the Nada, it can be assumed that the ongoing proceedings against Dane will drag on for several weeks, possibly even months. During this time, he will not be suspended by the Nada or the DEL2. We have therefore decided to bring Dane back into action from the weekend," explained Head of Sport Matthias Roos.
A substance banned in competition had been found in Fox. The attacker tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) after a game shortly before Christmas. According to Roos, Fox had "consumed a foodstuff at the beginning of the week in question and therefore not on the day of the match. Irrespective of this fact, it should be noted that THC as an ingredient has not been proven to produce a performance-enhancing effect in an athlete's body and may therefore be taken outside of competition days," Roos continued.
Weekly urine and saliva tests
The German National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada) announced that a results management procedure under sports law had been initiated against Fox on January 27. The Dresden team had suspended Fox from competition as a precautionary measure, although according to the Nada, a provisional suspension is not mandatory for specific substances.
According to Roos, Fox will submit weekly urine and saliva samples to the team doctor for a "continued transparent investigation".
Fox moved from the Nuremberg Ice Tigers to Dresden last summer and is currently the league leaders' top scorer with 43 points from 39 games.
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