The NHL’s Evgeny Kuznetsov will not be eligible to play for his native Russia for the next four years after testing positive for cocaine. He will be able to play internationally starting June 12, 2023.

Kuznetsov failed a drug test while playing in the World Championships shortly before suiting up to play against Czechoslovakia. The governing body of the Ice Hockey World Championships, The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), administered the test on May 26, yet the statement on banning Kuznetsov for four years did not come until August 23, and will be retroactive to June 13.

The IIHF, comprised of 76 worldwide member associations “presides over ice hockey in the Olympic Games, and over the IIHF World Championships at all levels, men, women, juniors under-20, juniors under-18 and women under-18,” according to its website. Being banned from IIHF-regulated events not only covers World Championships, but will also cover the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The NHL has yet to release a statement of their own, yet on their website, a post from Kuznetsov’s team, the Washington Capitals, appeared today:

“We are aware of the positive test result and related international sanction that has been imposed on Evgeny Kuznetsov. We are disappointed with this development and take this occurrence seriously. We understand that Evgeny has voluntarily sought help through the education and counseling program provided for in the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement and has agreed to a regular testing protocol relating to his involvement with that program. In addition, we are committed to ensuring he has the necessary support required to work through this situation. We will remain in contact with the NHL as they determine the next steps. Because of the sensitive nature surrounding this matter, there will be no further comment from us at this time.”

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The NHL has not in recent times taken the same stance on cocaine as the IIHF. From the 2018-2019 list of suspensions in the NHL, only two suspensions have been for drugs, one of which was for performance enhancing drugs (20 games), the other for alcohol-abuse related issues (length dependent on treatment). Yet a statement by the NHL was made after an investigation on cocaine usage. In 2015, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN in an interview, “The number of [cocaine] positives are more than they were in previous years and they’re going up. I wouldn’t say it’s a crisis in any sense. What I’d say is drugs like cocaine are cyclical and you’ve hit a cycle where it’s an ‘in’ drug again.”

In this interview, it became clear that the NHL has a difference stance than the IIHF. The NHL instead makes a distinction between “performance enhancing drugs” and “recreational drugs” or “drug abuse.” The NHL focuses more on “treatment” in the case of recreational drugs. Austin Watson, the player who was suspended for alcohol abuse, was not suspended as punishment for ‘cheating’ as has been labeled for PED users, but instead was put in a program for rehabilitation.

Kuznetov issued a statement accepting responsibility and said he would not fight the suspension.

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Egeny Kutznetsov scored twice to lift the Washington Capitals to 4-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.

Evgeny Kuznetsov Scores Twice, Capitals Beat Flyers 4-1

Braden Holtby made 33 saves, and Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie each recorded a goal and an assist for the Capitals (40-12-7), who had lost two straight following a six-day break.

Kuznetsov scored a power-play goal from the right circle at 16:28 of the first period, then made it 3-1 at 17:59 of the second by scoring off the stick of Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas and between Michal Neuvirth’s pads.

“If I have a chance to shoot I’ll always shoot, but if I see someone open I’ll try to pass,” Kuznetsov said. “Just happens pretty quick on the ice. I’ll always try to play for my partner.”

Neuvrith stopped 25 shots, and Brayden Schenn scored for Philadelphia (28-25-7), which scored less than two goals for the sixth time in the last nine games.

The Flyers next face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series on Saturday.

“It’s very frustrating,” Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux said. “We did a lot of good things tonight. We had good opportunities, and same story. Need to find a way here.”

An added source of frustration for the Flyers was likely the fact that they had two goals overturned after video review.

First, they believed they had scored 23 seconds into the game when Jakub Voracek scored from the slot. However, it was ruled following a coach’s challenge that Philadelphia forward Dale Weise interfered with Holtby.

Then, at 3:57 of the second period, the horn sounded after defenseman Ivan Provorov’s shot from the left side looked like a goal, but a review showed the puck hit the crossbar.

Capitals coach Barry Trotz praised the video review crew. “Nobody saw the interference on the first one, but they did,” said Trotz.

Oshie scored the only goal of the third period, tapping in a loose puck in the crease at 14:43 to make it 4-1. Alex Ovechkin helped set up the play.

Backstrom admitted he got “a little luck” on his goal, which he attempted to shoot between Neuvirth’s pads.

Washington killed two Philadelphia power plays.

Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen, who is suffering from a lower-body injury, played one shift in the final 33:06. Trots said Niskanen would be evaluated Thursday but didn’t believe the injury was serious. Washington forward Lars Eller played his 500th NHL game.

The Capitals next host the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, while the Flyers will visit the Penguins at Heinz Field on Saturday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0OLezTD55c

PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 22: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 22, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Capitals defeated the Flyers 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)