Yesterday "sources" told the Canadian Press that Columbus defenseman
Bryan "Cyclops" Berard tested positive for 19-norandrosterone back in November. It's a banned anabolic agent which, so the story goes, was in a supplement Berard took while working out during the lockout, and stayed in his system until the November test.
The NHL will reportedly not punish Berard, as because the test was not part of the league's program, which just started this past Sunday. The CBA only calls for suspension when a player fails a test adminstered by the league and union. This test was part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's out-of-competition testing program. Berard (a native Rhode Islander) was tested because he was on USA Hockey's preliminary Olympic roster, but he didn't make the final roster.
Since it wasn't an NHL test, and he didn't make the Turin team anyway, this seems like a pretty bad break for Berard. Like: hey, Bryan, we had to cut you. And now the bad news.
But who knows? Maybe he would have gotten Chelios's spot if he'd tested clean.
The NHL and NHLPA had no comment last night. Berard's scheduled to talk to reporters after the Blue Jackets' morning skate today.