Maple Leafs Carter Ashton suspended for drug violation

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Carter Ashton was suspended by the NHL for 20 games on Thursday. The suspension is a result of violating the NHL’s drug policy.

According to ESPN, Ashton said that he took the drug Clenbuterol through an inhaler. He was taking Clenbuterol to treat asthma. Clenbuterol is a banned substance. The suspension comes with a mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral program under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"...At no time was I seeking to gain an athletic advantage or to knowingly violate the terms of the program," Ashton said in a statement. "I used the inhaler in response to exercise-induced asthma, a condition that my doctor with the Toronto Maple Leafs has since diagnosed and he has prescribed me with an inhaler. As a professional hockey player, I recognize that I am responsible for what I put into my body, and I will not appeal my suspension. While I am extremely disappointed that I have let my teammates, our fans and the Maple Leafs organization down, I will work very hard during my suspension to stay in game shape so that I can help out the team when I am able to return."

Ashton was a first-round pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2009 draft. This season he has played in just three games and hasn’t scored a point. He has had more success with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. In 24 games with the Marlies he has16 goals and seven assists, according to the Canadian Press. Ashton will lose $169,185 in pay due to the suspension.

Ashton will not appeal the suspension. He is the third player to be suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA drug policy. Sean Hill, who was suspended in 2007 and former Buffalo Sabres forward Zenon Konopka, who was suspended in May, are the other two to be suspended under the drug policy.

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