Zenon Konopka will sit out 20 games after taking a substance banned by the NHL.
Sabres free agent forward Zenon Konopka, a faceoff specialist and tough guy, has been suspended 20 games for using performance enhancing drugs, the NHL announced on Thursday.
He'll be referred to the joint NHL-NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse for evaluation and any necessary treatment, and the suspension will be served at the beginning of any new contract Konopka might sign. He's a free agent as of July 1.
Konopka, in a statement released by the Players' Association, said that he unknowingly took an over-the-counter product that contained a substance banned by the league. He also took full responsibility. Here's Konopka's full statement:
"I deeply regret that I have tested positive for a prohibited substance in violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. I accept full responsibility for this error. As a professional athlete I am responsible for what I put in my body, and I am to blame for this mistake.
I want to make it clear that this violation occurred because I ingested a product that can be purchased over-the-counter and which, unknown to me, contained a substance that violated the program. Unfortunately, I did not take the necessary care to ensure that the product did not contain a prohibited substance. I want to stress, however, that I did not take this substance for the purpose of enhancing my athletic performance.
I apologize to my teammates and to the Buffalo Sabres organization, as well as to my friends and family. I have learned a great deal from this experience, something I hope to be able to share with younger players. I will accept this suspension and continue to work hard to prepare for the 2014-15 season."