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'Strong warning' Ohlund to compete in Olympics despite failed drug testPosted: Monday January 21, 2002 12:41 PMZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund can compete for Sweden in the Salt Lake City Olympics despite failing a drug test. The International Ice Hockey Federation gave Ohlund a "strong warning" Monday but no suspension because there had been "exceptional circumstances" in his positive test for the banned drug Acetazolamide after a random test Dec. 11. IIHF chief medical officer Mark Aubry told the disciplinary committee that the drug was contained in medicine given to Ohlund after eye surgery. "It was unanimously agreed that this was a positive test but not a doping infraction, that sports bodies must be very careful not to interfere with the good and proper treatment of injured athletes by competent medical specialists, and that, at all times, we must be fair and reasonable in dealing with our athletes so that they can support our efforts to keep our sport drug-free," the IIHF said. Ohlund had surgery Dec. 3 to clear up scar tissue that developed on his eye. It was the fourth operation since Ohlund was struck with an errant puck during an exhibition game before the 1999-00 NHL season. Ohlund did not inform officials of the World Anti-Doping Agency about the medicine he received. Acetazolamide can be used to mask steroids, but the Swedish federation said Ohlund had not known the medicine contained a banned substance. The Swedish national ice hockey team's general manager, Anders Hedberg, told The Associated Press he thought it was a "sensible" decision. "This shows that the system works," Hedberg said. "We don't want those who cheat. In this case, it is evident that it is a purely medical mistake. "I have nothing against Mattias being given a warning, because in the end, we are all individually responsible for everything we come in contact with."
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