Why did Evgeny Kuznetsov get suspended?

Russian professional ice hockey forward Evgeny Kuznetsov was suspended for four years by the International Ice Hockey Federation for testing positive for cocaine in August 2019.

Evgeny Kuznetsov voluntarily entered the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program (SABH), run by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.

Kuznetsov was tested on May 26 at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia, where he was playing for Russia.

He was provisionally suspended on June 13 for violating World Anti-Doping Code Article 2.1 (Presence of Prohibited Substance). His suspension, which covers all IIHF competitions, ends June 12, 2023.

Evgeny Kuznetsov had 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) in 70 games for the Capitals before his suspension, as well as six points (one goal, five assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He helped Washington win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in 2017-18 when he led the NHL with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in the playoffs after averaging 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists) in 79 regular-season games.

Kuznetsov, who was drafted in the first round (26th overall) by the Capitals in 2010, has 337 points (101 goals, 236 assists) in 416 regular-season games and 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 76 postseason games for Washington.