Hockey Player Receives Two Year Ban After Testing Positive for Illegal Substance

PUBLICATION

TJ Tucker
November 13, 2024 (10:46)

SHARE THIS STORY

A Russian hockey player playing in France has received an almost two-year ban from the sport after testing positive for a substance that has been banned

A hockey player has been banned from the sport for close to two years after testing positive for a banned substance. According to reports, Maxim Makarov has received a 20 month ban after morphine was discovered in his system.

Maxim Makarov is a Russian hockey player playing for Marseilles of the FFHG Division 2 league in France for the past three seasons. His suspension period began December 21, 2023 and ends on August 21, 2025.

While the suspension was announced by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, Ria Novatsi reports the ruling actually came from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

This is far from the first time that a Russian athlete has been found using banned substances. Russia was banned from the Olympics and global sport for four years back in 2020 for widespread doping.

The Russian Anti-Doping Authority states on its website that

"In accordance with the note to Article 2.10 of the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes and other persons must not work with coaches, instructors, physicians or other athlete support personnel who are serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation, or who have been found guilty in a criminal case or during a disciplinary investigation related to doping. Violation of this requirement may result in ineligibility for up to 2 years."

Maxim Makarov, 30, is a forward who has spent the vast majority of his career playing in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), Russia's second highest hockey league behind the KHL.

POLL
Is the ban of 20 months fair in the case of Maxim Makarov, who was caught with morphine in his system?
▢ Yes
▢ No, should have been shorter
▢ No, should have been longer
▢ I'm not sure