Phoenix Coyotes - Drug Test

[Sikamikanico]

Players take 1st drug tests Results are expected in next 10 days

David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 7, 2006 12:00 AM

Coyotes players took their first NHL-mandated, all-inclusive drug tests after Monday's practice at Glendale Arena.

An outside agency - Comprehensive Drug Testing Inc. - performed the tests without notice. Results are expected within the next 10 days.

Defenseman Zbynek Michalek and all of his teammates were required to provide a urine sample


"We want to show people that hockey is a clean sport," Michalek said beforehand. "We want to prove that we don't need any enhancing drugs. This is a good way to prove it."

Three members of the Coyotes - Shane Doan, Paul Mara and Ladislav Nagy - recently took tests for international competition, but Monday's tests were the first administered to any of Phoenix's players on behalf of the league.

Under terms of the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, players are subject to a minimum of two drug tests a year without warning.

Tests of entire NHL teams began Jan. 15. There have been no reports of positive results.

Doan said he'd be "shocked" if any of the Coyotes players tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

"Have you seen a picture of our team?" Doan asked jokingly. "If any of them are doing it, they need to get better stuff."