Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

http://www.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/sochi-2014/ ... sm.a78762/" target="_blank

For those who don't have a translate feature, Ralfs was caught with traces of a banned substance at the Olympics. Would be the 2nd Latvian hockey player if so and it would also threaten to have Latvia removed from 2018 hockey participation. Not good.

so far, let's make that allegedly caught.

according to my translation, the Latvian "metileksanamīns" is MHA (methylhexanamine).
"Methylhexanamine is classified on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list as a "specified stimulant," a group of substances that are more susceptible to inadvertent use and can carry reduced penalties."

FWIW, here's what happened to Pavlovs (tested positive for MHA following quarterfinal game with Canada on Feb. 19, with B sample testing on Feb. 22, and sanctions issued on Feb. 22).

I. The Athlete, Mr Vitalijs Pavlovs, Latvia, Ice Hockey, is disqualified from the Men’s Play-offs Quarterfinals – Canada vs Latvia match. (Note: He'd already played in the game...)
II. The Athlete shall be excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, and shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card immediately cancelled.
III. The Athlete’s diploma (for placing 8th) be withdrawn.

http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctio ... 014/225943" target="_blank

"At the hearing, the Athlete stated that he did not understand how this substance entered his body. The Athlete further informed the Disciplinary Commission that he has been taking food supplements upon the recommendation of the doctor of his club team, Dynamo Riga. The Athlete stated that he followed the instructions of his club team doctor, whom he trusted. In addition, the Athlete stated that his teammates on his club
team were also taking these food supplements."

http://www.sent-trib.com/bgsu-sports/nc ... t-olympics" target="_blank

NCAA says he's still eligible:
"Freibergs will play tonight at Northern Michigan, his first game for the Falcons since returning from the Olympics.
“We’ve been in touch with the NCAA and unless anything changes, they’ve said (Freibergs) is eligible to continue to play,” BG athletics department spokesman Jason Knavel said Friday."

GO FALCONS!!
SWEEP THE WILDCATS!!

Wasn't Sweden or Finland that had a player banned for (again, allegedly) taking allergy medication? The Olympics are borderline ridiculously strict on their banned substances, I'd hope that was the (alleged) case with Ralfs. Since I've never seen him or A-Rod in the same place, I'll try to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sweden's Nicklas Backstrom was suspended for the gold medal game because of an allergy med. If the substance isn't on the NCAA banned list...or if the NCAA doesn't feel the need to honor the findings of the Olympic committee, he shouldn't have anything to worry about.

The anti-doping regs are very strict, but they are designed to not only catch people using PED's but people taking other drugs that mask PED's. So you will sometimes see an athlete busted for taking something that seems innocuous but in reality, it's a sign that they're cheating.

I have no reason to think that is the case here though...