The KHL has suspended three players for violating their doping policy, after working with the IIHF to test 377 samples from the league. Derek Smith has been suspended until September 2nd, 2018, Andrei Konev until November 19th of this year, and Danis Zaripov until May 22nd, 2019 for use of a prohibited substance. Zaripov’s suspension carries a longer penalty for also testing positive for a prohibited masking substance.
Zaripov is easily the most recognizable name of the group, known as one of the best non-NHL players in the world. The 36-year old suited up for Russia at the 2010 Olympics, and holds five World Championship medals. He also has won the Gagarin Cup—the KHL championship—four times and has scored over 450 career points for Ak Bars Kazan since the KHL began in 2008.
Smith had a cup of coffee in the NHL, playing 94 games over five seasons before heading overseas to continue his career. He played 44 games in the KHL this season, registering nine points. The 32-year old defenseman was undrafted, but signed with the Ottawa Senators out of Lake Superior State in 2007.
Konev is the youngest of the bunch at 28, but has had trouble finding regular work in the KHL over the years. Playing in just 24 games this past year, he registered two points. The defenseman hasn’t played more than 24 games in a single season since 2009-10, often finding himself on the fringes of the roster.